Meta must ease access to non-profiled timeline: Dutch court

Core Points - A Dutch court has ordered Meta to provide Facebook and Instagram users in the Netherlands with direct access to a non-algorithmically profiled feed [1][2] - The court's ruling emphasizes that Meta's current practices do not allow Dutch citizens to make free and autonomous choices regarding profiled recommendation systems [2][3] - Meta has been given two weeks to implement changes, including retaining user preferences for non-profiled timelines [3] Legal Context - The case was initiated by the privacy group Bits of Freedom, which argued that Meta's practices violated the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) [3] - The court's decision was influenced by the upcoming Dutch elections on October 29, highlighting the urgency of the matter [3] Financial Implications - Meta faces a daily fine of €100,000 (approximately $117,450) for non-compliance, with a maximum penalty of €5 million [4] - Meta has expressed disagreement with the court's decision and plans to appeal, citing previous changes made to comply with regulatory obligations [4][5] Regulatory Environment - Meta argues that the DSA should be enforced consistently across the EU and not through individual court cases in member states [5] - The DSA aims to create a unified regulatory framework for tech companies, and proceedings like this could threaten the digital single market [7]