Meta planning ad free paid subscriptions

Proposals met with criticism by privacy rights advocates

Meta is reportedly considering the introduction of an ad-free paid tier for its Instagram and Facebook platforms in the European Union.

The Wall Street Journal initially reported Meta's plans, which involve offering users in the EU the option to pay a monthly subscription fee, approximately €10 for web access and €13 for mobile apps, for an ad-free experience on Instagram and Facebook.

Meta has reportedly informed the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) and regulators in Brussels about this subscription plan in the past month.

Under the proposed system, EU users of Meta's apps could choose between using the platforms for free with personalised ads or subscribing to enjoy an uninterrupted and privacy-focused experience.

While Meta has not officially confirmed these plans, a company spokesperson emphasized its belief in the value of free services supported by personalised ads. The spokesperson also noted that Meta is actively exploring ways to ensure compliance with evolving regulations.

Criticism by privacy advocates

Privacy rights group None Of Your Business (NOYB) has criticized Meta's move, describing it as a "pay for your rights" approach to monetising social media. Max Schrems, the founder of NOYB, expressed concerns about fundamental rights being up for sale and questioned whether other essential rights like the right to vote or free speech would follow suit.

NOYB argued that Meta's initiative goes against the European Data Protection Board and the Court of Justice of the European Union's previous rulings, which declared Meta's "consent bypass" practices illegal. They stressed that any alternative to ads must be deemed necessary and that the associated fee must be appropriate.

Meta is not the only social media platform considering the introduction of a paid ad-free tier; TikTok is also reportedly testing a similar subscription tier for $4.99 a month in the US.