Meta Given Weeks to Fix ‘Pay or Consent’ Model for EU Users

Imagine logging into Facebook or Instagram and being faced with a tricky choice: either allow Meta to track your every move for targeted ads or cough up a monthly fee to avoid them. Sounds frustrating, right? Well, that’s precisely the dilemma Meta has put before its EU users since November. And now, the clock is ticking for Meta to address these concerns. In this article, we’ll dive into what’s happening, why it matters, and what could come next for the tech giant.

Understanding the Timeline

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been put on a tight schedule:

• Deadline: By September 1, 2024, Meta must respond to a letter from the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network and the European Commission.
• What’s at Stake: They need to propose solutions to key issues around their ‘pay or consent’ options.

The Main Concerns

So, what’s the big deal? The CPC Network is scrutinizing Meta’s approach for several reasons:

• User Choice: Since last November, EU users have been forced to make a binary choice: either accept being tracked and profiled for behavioral ad targeting or pay a subscription fee to use ad-free versions.