Italy fines Meta for data use and account transparency

Italy’s competition authority on Wednesday fined global technology giant Meta 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) for lack of transparency in data use and management of Instagram and Facebook accounts .

The AGCM watchdog “found that Meta failed… to immediately inform registered Instagram users via the web about the use of their personal data for commercial purposes,” it said in a statement.

It also condemned Meta’s handling of suspended Facebook and Instagram accounts.

“In particular, Meta did not indicate how it decided to suspend the Facebook accounts, whether as a result of an automated or ‘human’ review,” the watchdog said.

And Meta “did not provide Facebook and Instagram users with information about the possibility of challenging the suspension,” including by appealing to an extrajudicial dispute resolution body or a judge, he said.

Furthermore, Meta established a short period of just 30 days for consumers to contest the suspension.

The Italian agency said that since it began investigating, Meta has changed its practices.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

gab-ar/lth