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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Blake Montgomery

Is Meta’s ad-free service just another way to make people pay for privacy?

Meta plans to give European Facebook and Instagram users the option of paying for ad-free versions of the platforms in an attempt to comply with EU data privacy rules.
Meta plans to give European Facebook and Instagram users the option of paying for ad-free versions of the platforms in an attempt to comply with EU data privacy rules. Photograph: Richard Drew/AP

Late last week, Europe’s largest consumer rights group filed a complaint against Meta over paid versions of Instagram and Facebook that give users ad-free versions of the social media sites. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) says the subscriptions – €9.99 per month for the web versions and €12.99 for the apps – are too expensive.

“The tech giant’s pay-or-consent approach is unfair and must be stopped,” the BEUC said. The organisation, which filed its complaint with the EU’s network of consumer protection authorities, called the prices “very high” and said Meta is using “unfair, deceptive and aggressive practices” while giving consumers “misleading and incomplete information”, according to a report by Ars Technica.

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