"EU Privacy Watchdog Urges Meta to Offer Free Option Without Targeted Ads"

The European Data Protection Board has recommended that Meta Platforms and other large online platforms offer users the option to use their services for free without targeted advertising. This opinion was issued in response to inquiries from national privacy regulators in the Netherlands, Norway, and Germany regarding consent or pay models adopted by these platforms. The EDPB emphasized the importance of providing a free alternative without behavioral advertising if a fee is charged for access to the equivalent alternative.