Meta plans to charge EU users up to €13 a month for ad-free access to its platforms, ensuing significant regulatory and privacy debates.
- Users will choose between free, ad-supported services or paid, ad-free subscriptions.
- The pricing model is part of Meta’s strategy to comply with the forthcoming EU Digital Markets Act.
- Meta faces substantial fines for non-compliance with the new EU regulations.
- The measure is seen as a way for Meta to address privacy concerns and regulatory requirements.
Meta will introduce a new pricing model for its EU users, offering a choice between free, advertising-supported access and a paid subscription costing up to €13 monthly on mobile devices. This model aims to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, effective from March, which enforces stricter rules on tech companies considered gatekeepers.
The planned rollout will affect users across the EU and the European Economic Area, including Switzerland. The Digital Markets Act seeks to prevent large tech firms from locking users into exclusive ecosystems and mandates clear user consent for data integration across services.
Meta’s move comes amid heightened scrutiny from EU regulators. The company, along with other tech giants, must avoid mixing user data from different services like WhatsApp without explicit consent. Non-compliance could result in fines up to 10% of global turnover, increasing to 20% for repeat violations.
Austrian privacy advocate Max Schrems criticised the initiative, stating, ‘Fundamental rights cannot be for sale. Are we going to pay for the right to vote or the right to free speech next?’ Meta defended the strategy, arguing that free services without targeted ads are unsustainable and noting that many competitors already offer similar ad-free subscriptions.
In a related context, Meta received a €1.2 billion fine in May for breaching General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by processing European data on US servers. This compliance issue also delayed the EU launch of its new text-based app, Threads, designed to rival Elon Musk’s Twitter.
Meta’s strategy of offering paid ad-free access is a direct response to stringent upcoming EU regulations, balancing compliance and service sustainability.
