Skip to main content
Facebook and Instagram breach EU rules by charging users to avoid adverts, European Commission suggests
Social media

FACEBOOK and Instagram are violating EU rules by charging users to avoid adverts, the European Commission said today.

Meta has given European users the option of paying for ad-free versions of the social media platforms since November, following a European Court of Justice ruling that users have to consent to be shown ads.

But the Commission said today that preliminary findings of an investigation into this are that a pay-or-consent model still breaches the Digital Markets Act (DMA) because users do not “freely consent” to allowing their personal data to be used to target them with ads.

Morning Star call for advertising
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Burnt cars remain in the middle of a street following the re
Features / 22 March 2025
22 March 2025
Ben Chacko asks NIZAR TRABULSI of the now banned Syrian Communist Party (Unified) to explain the country's turbulent, and violent, post-Assad scene
Delegates chat as they leave the Great Hall of the People af
Features / 22 March 2025
22 March 2025
From renewable tech to alternatives to the dollar, BEN CHACKO was encouraged by an optimistic meeting held by the China Media Group this week
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan (centre) on the picket l
Features / 22 February 2025
22 February 2025
Aslef general secretary MICK WHELAN speaks to Ben Chacko about rail renationalisation, the Employment Rights Bill and why we shouldn’t write off this Labour government