Italy fines Meta €805 million for unauthorized Android photo access

The Italian Data Protection Authority fined Meta €805 million on November 15, 2026, for accessing user photos, videos, and metadata on Android devices without obtaining specific consent. This sanction addresses the Facebook app's use of a feature that accesses private gallery content to suggest post ideas. The decision affects approximately 20 million Android users in Italy.

Unauthorized gallery access details

The investigation found that the Facebook app utilized a single, generic authorization to access user galleries rather than obtaining specific consent for the data usage. The feature, titled "Get suggestions from the gallery," has been available on Android devices since 2023. This function suggests content from a user's phone gallery to serve as post ideas while the user is browsing the application.

The regulatory action follows an investigation that began in July 2025. This probe was initiated after a complaint from the Bolzano Consumer and User Protection Center. The Italian authority noted that Meta's lack of cooperation during the investigation was a factor in determining the total amount of the fine.

Financial impact and regulatory context

The €805 million fine represents approximately 0.4% of the 2025 annual turnover for Meta. This figure is among the largest ever imposed by an Italian authority against a major technology company. The fine amount is equivalent to approximately $880 million.

Meta faces significant regulatory pressure globally. In late October 2026, authorities in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $25 billion for misleading residents regarding data usage for over a decade. Meta described the New Mexico fine as a "tax" on freedom of expression. Additionally, Italian authorities previously fined Amazon over €1.1 billion in 2021 for competition law breaches, though that sum was later reduced to €752 million on appeal.

Required compliance measures

The Italian Data Protection Authority has mandated specific changes to how Meta handles user data on Android platforms. Meta has 60 days to disable the "Get suggestions from the gallery" feature by default. The company must also implement a separate and specific consent request for users who wish to utilize the feature.

Meta's 2025 financial data shows an annual turnover of $201 billion and a net profit of $60.5 billion. The current fine for unauthorized photo access remains a significant penalty relative to these figures, reflecting the scale of the privacy violation identified by the Italian regulator.

Glossary

• competition law — Competition law aims to prevent competition from being distorted to the detriment of the public interest, individual undertakings and consumers. It covers all types of enterprise or undertaking engaged in an economic activity, excluding non-profit organisations based on the principle of solidarity or bodies carrying out a regulatory function.