London: Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has confirmed it will introduce an ad-free subscription option for UK users, costing up to £3.99 per month.
The new service comes as a response to regulatory concerns about the company’s use of personal data for targeted advertising. Under the plan, web users will be charged £2.99 a month, while mobile users will pay £3.99. Users with linked Facebook and Instagram accounts will only need to pay one subscription fee.
Meta said that the rollout will begin in the coming weeks, giving people the choice to continue accessing the platforms for free with personalised ads or subscribe to remove ads entirely. Those who do not subscribe will still see advertising.
The model mirrors a service already launched in the European Union, where regulators ruled it violated the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), legislation designed to curb big tech power.
Earlier this year, the European Commission fined Meta €200 million, arguing the company should have offered a no-cost version using only basic personal data, such as age, gender, and location, to generate ads.
In contrast, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) welcomed Meta’s new subscription model. An ICO spokesperson said that, “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.”
Earlier this year, the ICO noted that internet users must be given the right to opt out of data use for personalised advertising, following Meta’s settlement of a case with Tanya O’Carroll, a UK-based human rights campaigner. O’Carroll had accused the company of breaching data protection laws by refusing to stop collecting her information for targeted ads. Following the settlement, Meta indicated it was considering introducing an ad-free subscription.
Legal experts say the UK regulator’s supportive stance highlights a growing gap between the UK and the EU’s approach.
ALSO READ | Tropical Storm Bualoi sweeps Philippines with deadly impact
