Meta should provide customers with a free choice without targeted advertising: EU

The European Data Protection Board, an EU privacy authority, stated on Wednesday that Meta platforms and other sizable online platforms ought to offer customers the choice to utilise their services for free without being exposed to targeted advertising.

Following requests from national privacy regulators in the Netherlands, Norway, and Germany, the EDPB examined consent and payment structures used by major internet platforms like Meta.

In a statement, the EDPB emphasised that if controllers opt to charge a fee for access to the ‘equivalent alternative,’ they should give significant consideration to providing an additional option. This free alternative should be without behavioural advertising.