Social media giant Meta’s most popular platforms, Facebook and Instagram, are about to face a massive fine due to their personalized advertising models… With the European Union’s data protection regulations, a major investigation has been launched into these platforms’ policies regarding the use of user data for advertising purposes.

Facebook and Instagram might be using your data without permission

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has decided that Meta’s methods of personalized advertising and user data processing for Instagram and Facebook are not legal. This decision is seen as a significant development that could impact the company’s operations in Europe and result in fines amounting to billions of euros.

Meta’s advertising model aims to offer personalized ads by tracking users’ activities on the app and analyzing their personal data. Although this method is one of Meta’s biggest revenue sources, it also raises privacy concerns among users.

The EDPB’s decision states that Meta’s use of personal data for advertising purposes without explicit consent from users is in violation of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This could mean a complete overhaul of the company’s business model in Europe.

The potential fines that Facebook and Instagram face could be a turning point in the digital advertising industry. Discussions about the protection and ethical use of user data seem likely to continue shaping the tech sector’s agenda in the coming period.

According to news from Meta, the company retains the right to appeal the decision. However, the company has not yet contested the decision.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Don’t forget to share your views with us in the comments.