EU consumers challenge Meta paid service as privacy 'smokescreen'

In November, Meta launched a 'pay or consent' system allowing users to withhold use of their data for ad targeting in exchange for a monthly fee - a model already facing two challenges from privacy and consumer advocates. — Reuters

BRUSSELS: Consumer groups from eight EU countries lodged complaints against Meta on Thursday, accusing the Facebook and Instagram owner of illegally processing user data and using its "pay or consent" system as a "smokescreen" for privacy breaches.

Meta has reaped rich financial rewards by selling user data to advertisers, but its business model has pitted the US tech giant against EU regulators over data privacy.