Meta’s updated paid ad-free service may violate EU privacy laws, a consumer group said in a Reuters report.

By Fo Yun Chi

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Meta platforms’ overhauled paid ad-free service still violates EU privacy, consumer laws, consumer group says

A consumer group has urged EU regulators to take action against meth

Meta Platforms’ (NASDAQ:)’ revamped no-ads subscription service may violate EU consumer and privacy laws in addition to antitrust laws, the European Consumers Union (BEUC) has urged regulators to take action against the US tech giant.

Meta, which rolled out a fee-based service to Facebook and Instagram in 2023, then gave European users the option to receive less personalized ads and cut its fees by 40 percent last year.

In the year BUC, which complained about the fee-based service to consumer protection authorities in 2023, said the changes last year were cosmetic.

“In our view, the tech giant is making a weak bid to argue that it is complying with EU law by failing to address the fundamental issue that Facebook and Instagram users should not be given a fair choice, and still pushing users towards its behavioral advertising system,” said BEUC Executive Director Agustin Reyna.

“It is important for consumers and data protection authorities and the European Commission to quickly examine Meta’s latest policy and, if necessary, take quick and effective measures to protect consumers,” he said.

BEUC alleges that Meta’s misleading practices and vague wording lead users to the preferred option.

The consumer group said that users cannot freely consent to the processing of their data and that Meta will not reduce the data it collects from users.

BEUC also accused Meta of degrading users who did not consent to its use of their personal data.

Meta said the changes last year were in response to requests from EU regulators. The company was sued by EU antitrust regulators in July last year for breaching the Digital Markets Act, saying its paid ad-free service was a binary choice for users.