Privacy watchdogs target Meta over paid ad-free services in Europe

16 February 2024
The company might set a dangerous precedent in which users have to pay to protect their privacy.

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  • 21 Feb 2024

Mr. SugarMountain first has to tell us why is it impossible to remove all the notifications at once in Facepuke...

    Anonymous, 19 Feb 2024Guys, I don't think you understood! The DMA says some... moreWell I do get it. It's about personal data and GDPR but in the end that data is mainly used for tailormade adds but sadly also for who knows what. So both are linked to it and even if you would have to pay for this so called protection there's still no garantie that it won't be shared/sold behind your back. Even worse, the data remains on shady servers who knows were and who knows on how many servers on different locations. In the end you must ask yourself if you want to continue consuming free of charge or abandon it or pay for it (but no real garantie in that case despite whatever you are told).

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      • Anonymous
      • nDx
      • 19 Feb 2024

      atichko, 19 Feb 2024Totally true about the real job part but I'm wondering... moreGuys, I don't think you understood!
      The DMA says something completely different, it's not about ads, it's about personal data.
      We, as consumers of Facebook and Instagram, do not have a problem with the ads that appear in the news feed, we have a problem with the personal data that is collected extremely aggressively and that violates the GDPR rules. Now Meta says that if you don't want us to collect your personal data anymore, you have to pay. This is not correct.
      I personally don't have a problem with ads (normally they have to have an income and they do from these ads), but I don't want them to collect my personal data and in no way will I pay to have this personal data protected .
      Also, I have no problem to stop using facebook, instagram, whatsapp, if it comes to this.

        Cpt.Power, 18 Feb 2024Yes sure because of big adds boom which came i think 2014 o... moreTotally true about the real job part but I'm wondering who's stupid in this discussion. My point is that if you don't want add then pay for it because "free" does NOT exist. And if you are nagging about it while consuming it without asking yourself who pays the bills for those who create and maintain this kind of stuff then you're no better than all idiots who are shouting out loud about add's, personal and meta data. Do you really think that there is any "free" site that is maintained intensively out of good will and sunshine? Please grow up and act if you are against (read stop using free media because it's not free). Who's the stupid guy now?

          Seriously, what morendo they want? If free service witj ads exists, it's a problem, if paid service without ads exists, it's wrong too. And yeah, people usually pay for products they use somehow, or did these organizations come up with a new way of using products while getting them for free and at the same time making momey to its manufacturer?

            atichko, 17 Feb 2024By the way, do you know that this website also exist solely... moreYes sure because of big adds boom which came i think 2014 or so there were also many sites but no adds.
            GSMArena exist here from 2000 year when its been created in Bulgaria i think.
            Time and year where there was zero ads over internet how do you think they survived until now???
            So please if you really want say something tottaly stupid without any sense rather stay quiet.
            Many else pages lived before and thee were no stupid ads just internet for everyone.
            Now people are scary to click somewhere to not get malware, adaware, bloatware, spam and billions of pop ups over their PC and phone which is really stupid.
            Real people should do real jobs not living from copy and paste obvious bloatwares.

              Cpt.Power, 17 Feb 2024For who??? For wolfs who cant do a real job. Real people ... moreBy the way, do you know that this website also exist solely on add's? Are they also wolves?

                One the one hand, Facebook and many other crappy so-called "social" media, is/are free. As nothing ever comes free (except the air you breath) someone is paying that "poor" guy so he can afford to buy his happy meal. Who pais it? Right, advertising. Everyone nows and new (for the early adopters) that Facebook is earning his money from add's (and if not then these persons were either extremely dumb or they have been living on another planet). NO social media (and I mean none of them) care about you privacy. It's even worse as the ones who shout out loud that they do, are in fact the most dangerous ones and care the least. Europe can shout and fine all they want, it will never change as these guys own your ass. They have every bit of data that you shared through these channels and they do sell it to whomever pais for it, regardless of how many fines they need to pay as what they earn by selling your and my habits or the big data that comes out of it is worth several times the amount of fines, all together. In short, nothing is free, never! You want privacy? Do post, share, browse anything on any of these platforms. Basically, go back to the pre digital era. Otherwise, live with it and stop complaining or, even better, create your own, subscription based (yes...paid) social platform, totally add free and with storage of user data other than on the user's pc, laptop, whatever...

                  Aierlan, 17 Feb 2024Sites like this probably wouldn't exist only for ads t... moreFor who??? For wolfs who cant do a real job.
                  Real people do real work like making cars, working on constructions etc.
                  But many people loves to live from nothing add few ads here and there and money comming no hardowrk needed.
                  There is no order nor balance.

                    Bright , 17 Feb 2024Without ads or a fee or anything to sell, how would they ke... moreLike they were doing since years till now, but without the billion dollar fines for such treacherous activities.
                    Just remember, if Google, Microsoft or Facebook get fined, its we the people, who pay the fine by being shoved with more ads and tracking.

                    Facebook is such a heavy tracker, its even tracking my phone which has neither Facebook ID logged in, nor installed, not even any Google ID, only Whatsapp & its account.
                    And it even showed me a 'Divorce-Cake' as a random post on Facebook (on PC), when someone sent me on whatsapp "Finally, I'm divorced". Co-incidence? I've seen at least 8-10 such coincidences since then.

                      Cpt.Power, 16 Feb 2024Honestly whole internet should be ads free like we had 20-3... moreSites like this probably wouldn't exist only for ads though. Ads are annoying but they create lots of opportunities to make money

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                        • Anonymous
                        • rA}
                        • 17 Feb 2024

                        hmm, 17 Feb 2024Not so fast, Chinese phones often have Facebook tracking sy... moreNot only chinese phone

                        Even samsung also has facebook related apps pre-installed which can't be uninstalled unless we use adb to remove it.

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                          • DGV
                          • 17 Feb 2024

                          Anonymous, 16 Feb 2024Best solution, is to delete FB account. No FB, no problemsNot so fast, Chinese phones often have Facebook tracking system incorporated right from start

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                            • Bright
                            • y6W
                            • 17 Feb 2024

                            Without ads or a fee or anything to sell, how would they keep up the servers and the people running?

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                              • Anonymous
                              • IVW
                              • 17 Feb 2024

                              His doing just make more people move away from FB to another alternative
                              Take that Mark Zuckerberg for being greedy.

                                Honestly whole internet should be ads free like we had 20-30 years ago.

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                                  • Anonymous
                                  • Iby
                                  • 16 Feb 2024

                                  keklivesmatter, 16 Feb 2024Reject modernity, embrace tradition 👌If so, then why are you celebrating TikTok over on the other thread?

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                                    • Anonymous
                                    • rJ7
                                    • 16 Feb 2024

                                    It's similar to ransomware attack from meta asking you to pay up for using fb or they will sell your data.
                                    Although you have an option to delete fb account once and for all.

                                      Anonymous, 16 Feb 2024No social media, no problem Get outside people, talk to ea... morePeople do all that but also have the phone with them where they are nose in the screen all the time.

                                      I have my screen time at home and work so when i move around outside i dont use my phone other then listen to music or radio.

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                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 0cB
                                        • 16 Feb 2024

                                        Anonymous, 16 Feb 2024No social media, no problem Get outside people, talk to ea... moreI have some social media accounts and apps. But I get outside often. So no problem as long as you don't use them several hours.

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