Meta is reportedly planning to appeal the fine.
The Italian Data Protection Authority (IDPA) has hit Meta with one of its highest fines to date. According to the Italian data regulatory body, Meta failed to specifically disclose that it had access to user photos, videos and the related metadata for those using the Facebook app on Android devices. The IDPA fined Meta Platforms Ireland Limited 805 million euros, or approximately $887 million, which represents 0.47 percent of the company's global revenue.
For users, the "Camera roll sharing suggestions" recommends users which photos or videos to post on Facebook from their phone's photo library. The Italian authority said that access to this photo gallery is granted from a single permission request that applies to the entire app, despite the multiple functions it covers. The IDPA argued that this method allows Meta broad ongoing access without "obtaining specific consent and without properly informing" its users.
Beyond the lack of specific consent, the IDPA argued that the feature shouldn't be on by default and that Meta should make clear that its users are authorizing media gallery access for post suggestions. The Italian data watchdog said it launched the investigation in July 2025, following a complaint from the Bolzano Consumer Protection Centre.
