Fastrack · Italy Fines Meta €805 Million Over User Photo Access

Italy's data protection agency fined Meta Platforms €805 million ($887 million) on Saturday. It found Facebook's Android app accessed users' photos and videos without consent or notice.

0.47% of Meta's global revenue: the fine's size, per the regulator.
A Facebook tool suggested posts drawn from users' personal photo galleries.
The regulator said one broad permission covered gallery access, enabled by default.
The agency cited Meta's reported lack of cooperation in setting the fine.

Why it matters: The regulator said the permission could let the app read a phone's entire photo archive. It said neither users nor authorities could verify what was actually used.

The agency said the access violated Article 122 of Italy's Privacy Code.
The probe did not examine AI training; Meta denies using the content that way.

How 12 sources split on this story

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Coverage by lean% of 12 sources

12 sources · 12 articles · 67% Center coverage

Center coverage, 8 sources: The center frames it as a large privacy penalty, stressing the regulator's finding that access happened without consent.

IBTimes10hItaly Fines Meta Nearly $1 Billion Over Company Accessing User Photos And Videos 'Without Consent'USA Today8hItaly fines Meta $887 million over Android users' data access BBC News7hItaly fines Meta €805m over accessing users' photos Bloomberg9hItaly Fines Meta €805 Million Over Access to Users’ Photos CTV News5hItaly fines Meta US$887 for using Android gallery photos and videos on Facebook Deutsche Welle5hItaly slaps Meta with €805mn fine over access to Android photos Jerusalem Post8hItaly fines Meta $887 million over Android users' data access The Hill3hItaly fines Meta $887M for accessing users’ photos without specific consent

Left4 sources

ABC News5hMeta fined $887M in Italy over Android gallery photos, videos on Facebook Al Jazeera8hItaly fines Meta $880m over photo privacy Los Angeles Times5hMeta fined $887 million in Italy over Android, Facebook images The Independent5hMeta fined $887 million in Italy over Android gallery photos and videos on Facebook

What’s next: Meta has 60 days to disable the feature by default and request separate consent. After that, the tool cannot run for users who have not opted in.

The regulator may separately review a 2026 feature that processes gallery content in the cloud.
A Milan class action by families against Meta and TikTok has a final hearing Nov. 19.
Will Meta appeal the fine or comply within the 60-day window?
Will the regulator's review of the cloud-processing feature lead to further action?