Italy fines Meta $887 million; must disable feature by default in 60 days

Facebook and Instagram parent Meta has been fined in Italy. Italian regulators have fined the social media giant Meta $887 million for accessing Android smartphone users' photos and videos without their specific consent. The Italian regulator said that the company had accessed Android users' photographs and videos without obtaining their consent or informing them. The fine is among the largest an Italian authority has ever imposed on a technology company.Italy's Data Protection Authority said that Meta did not properly inform about 20 million smartphone users that it had access to their photos and videos via a feature of the Facebook app.Meta gets 60-day deadlineIn its order, the regulator has given Meta 60 days to disable the feature by default and seek users' consent separately for access.The charge is related to a feature which suggests photos and videos from a user's phone gallery as ideas for posts.