elvithOct 4, 2023

Meta (Facebook / Instagram) to move to a "Pay for your Rights" approach

https://feddit.de/post/4152441

Meta (Facebook / Instagram) to move to a "Pay for your Rights" approach - Feddit

The Wall Street Journal reported that Meta plans to move to a “Pay for your Rights” model, where EU users will have to pay $ 168 a year (€ 160 a year) if they don’t agree to give up their fundamental right to privacy on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. History has shown that Meta’s regulator, the Irish DPC, is likely to agree to any way that Meta can bypass the GDPR. However, the company may also be able to use six words from a recent Court of Justice (CJEU) ruling to support its approach.

Show threadByteWelderOct 4, 2023

It seems like this might break the GDPR rules for consent:

Any element of inappropriate pressure or influence which could affect the outcome of that choice renders the consent invalid.

gdpr-info.eu/issues/consent/

Consent - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Processing personal data is generally prohibited, unless it is expressly allowed by law, or the data subject has consented to the processing. While being one of the more well-known legal bases for processing personal data, consent is only one of six bases mentioned in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The others are: contract, legal … Continue reading Consent

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Show threadZagorathOct 4, 2023

I think you’d have a hard time legally saying that they have to provide a service to users when that service is paid for by selling access to users via advertising, even if the user refuses to allow that access. It would probably qualify as “necessary for such performance”.

Having the extra option to pay to remove ads (while I think this price is ridiculously excessive) is a pretty reasonable compromise. Although it also feels kinda icky in the sense that it means you’re essentially turning privacy into a privilege for the wealthy. So I dunno, it’s a tricky issue.

Show threadracsolOct 4, 2023
I agree, but it’s not like using Meta is mandatory. You can decide not to use their services.
Show threadfolkravOct 4, 2023
It gets tricky once things become ubiquitous enough. If I did decide not to use their services (specifically Messenger), I’d be cutting myself off from communicating with 90% of my family, unfortunately. So yeah, it’s a choice that can be made… But how much of a choice is it, really?
Show threadracsol

Not easy, I agree.

I’ve been without any Meta services for 2 years already. In my experience, people have been more understanding regarding that than I initially imagined.

I believe that the choice can be made so I did. I still think most people can. That doesn’t mean I don’t respect the reasons anyone might have to stay.

I just strongly disagree that people don’t have a choice.

Oct 4, 2023 at 5:35pmWeb
Show threadthekinghaslostOct 5, 2023

I just strongly disagree that people don’t have a choice.

It also kind of depends on your environment, especially where you live.

If you live in places like US where most messaging is done through SMS or iMessage and calls are done using standard phone call or FaceTime, it’s probably just “not easy” to move away from Meta services.

But when you live in places where Meta services (especially WhatsApp, where it’s the most used messaging service outside the US) are the only way to contact anyone, well, it’s virtually impossible to move away from Meta services.

If I stopped using WhatsApp at this moment, it literally means I won’t have any way to contact anyone. Very close friends and close family, maybe I can force them to install Signal, but anyone else? Probably not.

Phone call, maybe, but it’s expensive and most people don’t pick up phone anymore. SMS? Well, not only it’s expensive, even if I’m fine with paying for SMS, most people probably don’t so they won’t reply. It’s not “harder to contact anyone”, it’s literally “can’t contact anyone”.

Though I understand the controversy of EU’s “standardized messaging protocol” regulation, I kind of wish it can work out somehow, so I can get the heck out of WhatsApp and still able to contact people.

Show threadracsolOct 5, 2023

I just strongly disagree that people don’t have a choice.

Just to give the full context regarding my opinion: I do live in an EU country in which WhatsApp is the default messaging app and Instagram is where people my age and younger use to keep in touch with their social circle.

It’s been how you’ve said. A lot of people I cannot easily reach out. I’ve managed not to be completely isolated through Telegram.

People I’m really close to, have been kind enough to meet me there. Even some collegues from my previous work. Every time I gone out with them, we’ve talked there.

Now, I’m in very few family/friends chat groups so the ones I’m in I actually care about. There’s less distractions and notifications. So at least that have been an advantage.

Show threadsir_reginaldOct 5, 2023
let’s not pretend that Telegram is any better than using WhatsApp.
Show threadracsolOct 6, 2023

True in the sense that Telegram it not a real privacy-respecting alternative. So, it’s a good thing to point out.

My reasons for leaving Meta are more anti-Meta than anything else. For those who have succeeded at using something really private, my respects. I just not had any good alternative without being cut off society.

If I thought there was no difference between Telegram and WhatsApp, I’d have kept using WhatsApp. But yeah, it’s not good option anyway. Just good-enough compromise for me to leave Meta.