EU Watchdog Rejects Meta's 'Consent or Pay' Model, Calls for Free User Options

Apr 17, 2024, 03:45 PM

The EU privacy watchdog has announced its opposition to Meta's 'consent or pay' model, which would require users to pay a fee to avoid targeted advertising. This decision is part of a broader scrutiny over ad transparency tools provided by major tech companies. The watchdog emphasized that Meta and other large online platforms should offer users a real choice, allowing them to use services for free without targeted ads. This stance comes amidst reports that tech giants have failed to meet the EU's new standards for ad transparency, which is crucial to prevent disinformation and manipulation.