"European Consumer Groups Accuse Meta of Massive, Illegal Data Processing"

European consumer groups have accused Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, of engaging in "massive" and "illegal" data collection practices, filing complaints with national data protection authorities. They claim that Meta collects excessive user data, infringing on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Meta disputes the allegations, stating that they comply with GDPR and have overhauled privacy practices. The complaints could lead to further legal action against Meta, which was fined €1.2 billion last year for GDPR violations. Additionally, the company's subscription service for ad-free versions of its platforms is criticized for offering an unfair choice and lack of transparency in data processing.