Italy fines Meta €805 million over Android gallery access

Italy’s data protection authority fined Meta €805 million, about $887 million, after finding that a Facebook feature accessed photographs and videos in Android users’ personal galleries without adequate consent or notice. The authority said about 20 million users were affected.

Meta has 60 days to disable the feature by default and request separate consent. The company said users already grant device permission and can change it in settings, called the penalty disproportionate and said it would appeal. The investigation did not cover possible AI-training use, which Meta denied.