EU says Meta’s “pay or consent” model may violate consumer protection laws, too
The European Commission is going after Meta and its “pay or consent” model on multiple fronts. Today, the government body said giving consumers only the options to either pay a €12.99 subscription fee to use Meta and Instagram or to consent for their personal data to be used in advertising might violate its consumer protection laws.
Consumer protection authorities found several elements of the company’s rollout of the model may have constituted “misleading or aggressive practices,” including:
using the word “free”
“confusing users” trying to read their privacy policy and terms of service
for using “imprecise terms and language”
and for pressuring them to make a choice quickly.
Meta has till September 1 to reply to the letter with proposed solutions.
Earlier this month, the EC said Meta’s model might have failed to comply with its Digital Markets Act by not offering consumers a third option.
Consumer protection authorities found several elements of the company’s rollout of the model may have constituted “misleading or aggressive practices,” including:
using the word “free”
“confusing users” trying to read their privacy policy and terms of service
for using “imprecise terms and language”
and for pressuring them to make a choice quickly.
Meta has till September 1 to reply to the letter with proposed solutions.
Earlier this month, the EC said Meta’s model might have failed to comply with its Digital Markets Act by not offering consumers a third option.
