Meta Faces Accusations of Illegal Data Collection in Europe, Triggering Complaints from Consumer Groups

Consumer rights groups in Europe have accused Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, of engaging in a "massive" and "illegal" operation to collect data from hundreds of millions of users across the continent. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), representing 45 consumer groups, announced that eight member organisations are filing complaints with national data protection authorities, alleging that Meta's data collection practices violate the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The complaints assert that Meta collects excessive user information, including data used to infer sexual orientation, emotional state, or susceptibility to addiction, without obtaining valid and freely given consent. The BEUC claims that Meta's practices breach key provisions of the GDPR, the EU's data privacy law.

In response, Meta disputes the allegations, stating that it takes regulatory obligations seriously and is confident its approach complies with the GDPR. The company emphasises its commitment to privacy and notes that it has revamped its privacy measures since 2019.

The complaints, if taken up by data protection authorities, could lead to further legal action against Meta, which has faced regulatory scrutiny in Europe for years. Last May, EU regulators imposed a record-breaking fine of €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) on Meta for GDPR violations related to transferring Facebook user data to servers in the United States.

The BEUC argues that Meta's subscription service, introduced in response to regulatory pressure, provides users with an "unfair and misleading choice." The subscription service, which allows users to pay for an ad-free experience, is criticised for needing more transparency in data processing, making it difficult to understand how subscribing affects their data.

The Norwegian Data Protection Authority expressed grave concerns about Meta's practices, emphasising that data protection is a human right for all. The complaints are expected to undergo an initial examination by the respective national data protection authorities before being reviewed by the Irish Data Protection Commission, the lead regulator for Meta in Europe. Meta's subscription service, portrayed as an effort to comply with GDPR, is scrutinised for its impact on user choices and alignment with EU consumer protection laws.