ROME, November 15, 2026: Italy’s data protection authority has reportedly imposed an $887 million fine on Meta over allegations that its Facebook Android application accessed users’ private photos and videos without adequate consent.
According to foreign media reports, the regulatory action concerns a Facebook feature that accessed images and videos stored on users’ mobile devices to suggest content for sharing on the social media platform.
Italian authorities said users were not sufficiently informed about the feature or the permissions required to access their personal media files.
The regulator reportedly found that the feature affected more than 20 million users, raising concerns over privacy protections and the handling of personal data.
Meta has also been directed to disable the disputed feature by default within two months, according to the reports.
Under the reported directive, the company would be required to obtain explicit permission from users before enabling the feature in the future.
The action highlights regulatory concerns over how social media companies access personal information stored on smartphones, particularly when users may not fully understand the permissions granted to applications.
The reports did not include Meta’s response to the penalty or indicate whether the company intends to challenge the decision.