Meta has announced a new subscription service for UK users of Facebook and Instagram, a move that the nation’s data regulator has confirmed is “in line with UK law.” This development provides a pathway for the company to address long-standing legal concerns about its use of personal data for targeted advertising, offering users a paid way to opt out.
The new system, which will be rolled out in the coming weeks, presents a clear choice. Users can continue with the free, ad-supported versions of the apps or subscribe to remove all ads. The pricing will be £3.99 per month for mobile users and £2.99 per month for web users. A single fee will apply to both platforms if accounts are linked, simplifying the offering for consumers.
The endorsement from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is crucial. An ICO spokesperson stated, “This moves Meta away from targeting users with ads as part of the standard terms and conditions for using its Facebook and Instagram services, which we’ve been clear is not in line with UK law.” This statement validates Meta’s strategy in the UK and comes after the company settled a pivotal court case with a campaigner over data rights.
This compliance with UK law stands in stark contrast to the legal reality in the European Union. There, Meta was fined €200m by the European Commission for offering a similar service, which was ruled to be in breach of the Digital Markets Act. The EU’s stance is that a choice between paying and accepting comprehensive tracking is coercive and not a valid form of consent.
The different legal interpretations highlight the UK’s increasingly distinct regulatory path. According to legal experts, the UK government has directed its regulators to support economic growth, leading to a more “pro-business” climate. This has resulted in the ICO approving a model that the EU has fundamentally rejected, creating a wider gap in the digital rights landscape across Europe.