Meta could allow users to pay for Facebook and Instagram to avoid advertising in their feeds, at least in Europe.
The New York Times reports that Meta is considering a paid subscription to its social media products, an attempt by Meta to address EU concerns about privacy and advertising. There is no information on pricing or a release date and it is not confirmed whether the product will actually be released.
Meta did not respond to a request for comment.
The company is battling the EU and other European regulators over alleged privacy violations through its ad tracking services and data transfers. The Irish Data Protection Commission fined Meta $1.3 billion for transferring European users’ data to the US in violation of the GDPR. The US and EU signed a data transfer agreement in July that eases restrictions on social media platforms.
Meta has already started offering the ability to opt-out of targeted advertising in the EU and has reportedly proposed taking it a step further and making it an opt-in option for everyone in the region.
Meta also delayed the release of its new social platform Threads in Europe due to regulatory concerns. Meta appears concerned about the upcoming Digital Markets Act, which will prevent companies from reusing personal user data, including their name and location.