Italian regulator fines Meta 805 million euros for unauthorized Android media access

The Italian Data Protection Authority imposed a 805 million euro fine against Meta Platforms Ireland Limited on November 14, 2026. The penalty addresses the unauthorized access of photos, videos, and associated metadata from Android users. This regulatory action follows an investigation into how the Facebook Android application handles user media.

Unauthorized media access details

The investigation focused on a specific feature titled "Get suggestions from gallery when browsing Facebook." This feature has been available since 2023 and was enabled by default for users. The regulator determined that the application accessed photos, videos, and metadata without obtaining specific consent or providing adequate notification to users. This practice has affected approximately 20 million Android users in Italy.

The Italian Data Protection Authority cited a lack of cooperation from Meta during the investigation as a factor in determining the final fine amount. The 805 million euro penalty represents approximately 0.47% of the total global revenue of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited.

Regulatory requirements and future investigations

The Italian regulator ordered Meta to disable the "Get suggestions from gallery when browsing Facebook" feature by default within 60 days. Furthermore, the authority mandated that the company must implement a separate consent request for any gallery access. While the current investigation began in 2025, the scope did not cover the use of user images and videos for training artificial intelligence models.

The Italian Data Protection Authority reserved the right to conduct a separate investigation into a new feature launched in 2026. This new feature processes gallery content via the cloud. The regulator has not yet released details regarding the specifics of that potential inquiry.

Meta response and legal context

A Meta spokesperson stated that the company strongly disagrees with the decision and intends to appeal the ruling. The spokesperson argued that the penalty is disproportionate and characterized the feature as a convenience tool for users. Meta maintains that users can manage their permissions through their device settings.

This fine follows other significant legal challenges for the company. In late October 2026, Meta was ordered to pay 25 billion US dollars in New Mexico for misleading residents regarding data usage over a 10-year period. Additionally, Italian authorities previously fined Amazon over 1.1 billion euros for antitrust violations in 2021, a figure that was later reduced to 752 million euros on appeal.

Glossary

• Android — Android is an operating system. It is used by users who may have their media accessed by applications.
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited — Meta's Irish subsidiary, formerly known as Facebook Ireland Limited. It serves as the contracting entity for users outside of the U.S. and Canada.
• New Mexico — A state that has laws against the possession of alcohol by minors. These laws do not prohibit the consumption of alcohol by minors.