$880M Fine Hit Meta After Facebook App Scanned Android Photo Galleries
Italian data protection authorities fined Meta 805 million euros ($880 million) after finding the company accessed users’ photo and video galleries on Android devices without obtaining specific, separate consent.
The enforcement action directly targets a Facebook feature launched in 2023 that automatically scans device galleries to suggest post ideas while users browse the app. Regulators found that Meta bundled this access behind a single, generic authorization prompt for the entire app. Users were asked to enable broad features without clear notice that they were simultaneously authorizing background access to their personal media files and associated metadata. The regulator noted that the practice affects roughly 20 million Android users in Italy.
To bring its app into compliance, Meta must overhaul its permission framework for Android devices. The company is now required to request gallery access through a standalone prompt separate from initial app setup, clearly outline that the access is used specifically for post recommendations, and provide a direct path for users to disable the feature.
In calculating the €805 million penalty, the Italian authority cited the massive scale of affected users, the ongoing nature of the breach for unupdated apps, and Meta’s lack of cooperation during the investigation. The fine represents approximately 0.4 percent of Meta’s $201 billion annual turnover recorded in 2025.
| Regulator / Institution | Penalty Amount | Violation Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Italian Data Protection Authority | €805 million ($880 million) | Accessing Android photo galleries without specific, unbundled consent (~20 million users affected) |
