Meta has recently implemented a paid subscription option for Facebook and Instagram in Europe, allowing users to opt out of ads for a fee. However, 28 privacy watchdog organizations are calling for this model to be banned, as they believe it sets a dangerous precedent and undermines GDPR regulations, ultimately forcing people to pay for privacy protection.
A joint letter signed by organizations like the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Wikimedia Europe, and the Electronic Privacy Information Centre, was issued to the European Data Protection Board, urging them to weigh in on the consent or pay model.
The letter states that other companies are aware that the majority of users will not be willing or able to pay for privacy protection, leaving them vulnerable to aggressive tracking, data collection, and targeted ads.
Meta’s proposed model offers users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland the option to pay €12.99 per month (€8 for each additional platform) for an ad-free experience, or continue to see promoted content making up a significant portion of their news feed.
