The Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network raised concerns that Meta’s ‘pay or consent’ model might violate EU consumer law. The European Commission, led by the French Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Prevention, coordinated this action. It began after Meta required users to either pay a fee to use Facebook and Instagram or consent to personalized ads using their data.
Consumer protection authorities examined whether Meta provided clear and sufficient information to consumers, allowing them to understand the implications of their choices. They were particularly worried that consumers might have felt pressured to quickly decide between the two options, fearing immediate loss of access to their accounts and contacts.
This action against Meta is part of broader EU and national efforts addressing the ‘pay or consent’ model.