Facebook, Instagram ad-free subscription faces privacy challenge, here’s why

Last month, Meta announced a subscription plan that enables users to have an ad-free experience on Facebook and Instagram. The subscription option is only for users residing in the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland. But it may have run into a problem.

According to a report by news agency Reuters, advocacy group NOYB has filed a complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority saying that the subscription model amounts to paying a fee to ensure privacy.

“EU law requires that consent is the genuine free will of the user. Contrary to this law, Meta charges a ‘privacy fee’ of up to 250 euros per year if anyone dares to exercise their fundamental right to data protection,” NOYB data protection lawyer was quoted as saying.

Users in Europe can subscribe for EUR 9.99 on the web and EUR 12.99 on iOS and Android. Meta said that paying users’ data will not be utilised for advertising purposes.

The group also criticised the amount of the fee the company is charging for the subscription.

“Not only is the cost unacceptable, but industry numbers suggest that only 3% of people want to be tracked – while more than 99% don’t exercise their choice when faced with a ‘privacy fee’,” the group said.

What Meta has to say
A Meta spokesperson noted that the pricing was in line with similar subscription offerings in Europe.

“The option for people to purchase a subscription for no ads balances the requirements of European regulators while giving users choice and allowing Meta to continue serving all people in the EU, EEA and Switzerland,” the company was quoted as saying.

Reuters reports that the complaint will likely be forwarded to the Irish data protection watchdog which oversees Meta because it has the company’s European headquarters in Ireland.

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Last month, Meta announced a subscription plan that enables users to have an ad-free experience on Facebook and Instagram. The subscription option is only for users residing in the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland. But it may have run into a problem.

According to a report by news agency Reuters, advocacy group NOYB has filed a complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority saying that the subscription model amounts to paying a fee to ensure privacy.

“EU law requires that consent is the genuine free will of the user. Contrary to this law, Meta charges a ‘privacy fee’ of up to 250 euros per year if anyone dares to exercise their fundamental right to data protection,” NOYB data protection lawyer was quoted as saying.

Users in Europe can subscribe for EUR 9.99 on the web and EUR 12.99 on iOS and Android. Meta said that paying users’ data will not be utilised for advertising purposes.

The group also criticised the amount of the fee the company is charging for the subscription.

“Not only is the cost unacceptable, but industry numbers suggest that only 3% of people want to be tracked – while more than 99% don’t exercise their choice when faced with a ‘privacy fee’,” the group said.

What Meta has to say
A Meta spokesperson noted that the pricing was in line with similar subscription offerings in Europe.

“The option for people to purchase a subscription for no ads balances the requirements of European regulators while giving users choice and allowing Meta to continue serving all people in the EU, EEA and Switzerland,” the company was quoted as saying.

Reuters reports that the complaint will likely be forwarded to the Irish data protection watchdog which oversees Meta because it has the company’s European headquarters in Ireland.

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end of article