Meta has offered to reduce the price of the paid subscription for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram from 10 euros to 6 euros per month. This is reported by the Reuters news agency, citing a representative of the US company. The proposal was made during a hearing by the European Commission in the face of persistent criticism from data and consumer advocates about the payment model. It should be understood as an attempt to meet the requirements of EU data protection regulations and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Reuters quoted Meta's lawyer Tim Lamb as saying. This is the lowest possible price that reasonable people could expect for such offers. In contrast, regulatory uncertainties would have to be eliminated.
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Lower fee conversations
Meta introduced the paid subscription for users from the European Economic Area (EEA) in the fall. For a monthly fee, you can access all of a user's Facebook and Instagram accounts on the web without displaying any advertising, it was said at the time. According to the new proposal, you should get access to an account for just over half the money; four euros would be charged for each additional account. The proposal was made to EU officials a while ago, and there are currently discussions with data protection authorities – especially those primarily responsible for Meta in Ireland.
Noyb's data protection activists have now immediately rejected the suggestion. We know from studies that even the smallest fees lead to significant changes in behavior when consent is given. The vast majority would always be pressured into agreeing to the tracking necessary for advertising. It's not about the amount due at all, “but about the 'pay or okay' system as a whole.” Its purpose is always to force people to give consent that is “not their free and genuine decision”. It is not assumed that simply changing the amount will change anything. Noyb is one of a number of groups that have called for the entire subscription model to be rejected.
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