The tech giant has settled a long-running dispute with European Union regulators. The company aims to avoid potential billion-dollar fines by agreeing to make changes to its controversial Meta ad model, which has drawn user criticism.

What does the new Meta ad model offer?

According to an announcement by the European Commission on Tuesday, the social media giant will offer users another alternative. Facebook and Instagram users will now be able to opt out of seeing “less personalized” ads. This move represents a relaxation of the company’s strict policy of “either sharing your data or paying for an ad-free subscription.”

In April, the Commission fined the company €200 million and ordered it to change its model. If Meta had not complied, it would have faced heavy penalties of up to 5 percent of its daily global revenue. Authorities said they would review the changes before closing the investigation, but that this was a “very good step.”

“Tech War” Between the US and the EU
The investigation is being conducted under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to bring tech giants to heel. However, this situation has strained relations between the Trump administration and Brussels. Last week’s €120 million fine imposed on Elon Musk’s platform X was the final straw.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called these fines “an attack on American platforms and people,” while US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder criticized the regulations as “excessive authority” and “censorship.” Along with Meta, giants like WhatsApp, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft continue to grapple with EU antitrust investigations.

So, what are your thoughts on Meta’s European retreat and the US’s harsh response? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!