Italy Fines Meta €805 Million Over Android Photo Access

Italy’s data protection authority, Garante, has imposed a record-breaking fine of €805 million (approximately 30.1 billion baht) on Meta. According to reports from the BBC and Khaosod Online, the regulator found that Meta accessed photos and videos of approximately 20 million Android users without obtaining clear, separate consent. The issue centers on a Facebook feature that suggests content from a user's gallery. While Meta argues that users grant general access permissions within their device settings, the regulator maintains that these notifications failed to explicitly inform users that the permission allowed the company to scan their personal media libraries for content suggestions. For residents and travelers in Thailand who use Facebook on Android devices, this ruling highlights ongoing global scrutiny regarding how social media platforms handle personal data and device permissions. Meta has been given 60 days to disable this feature by default and must seek explicit, separate consent from users. A spokesperson for Meta stated that the company strongly disagrees with the regulator's assessment of the facts and the legal interpretation, confirming plans to appeal the decision. It remains to be confirmed how Meta will adjust its interface to comply with the 60-day deadline and whether similar regulatory actions will be pursued in other jurisdictions.