Meta seeks EU consent for ads

Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, says it will start asking users in the European Union for permission to show personalized advertising. The move follows regulatory rulings that challenged Meta’s data-collection methods for targeted ads. Rather than relying on a “legitimate interest” justification, Meta has conceded it must obtain explicit consent under EU data-protection rules before using people’s personal data to tailor ads on its platforms.

Privacy regulators in the UK and across Europe have said they will examine Meta’s announcement and how it implements consent. Many privacy experts predict a significant number of users will refuse permission, which could reduce the effectiveness of highly targeted advertising. For Meta, which earns the majority of its revenue from ad sales, the change could force new approaches to monetization or less personalized ads for EU users if consent rates remain low.

Who did it? And what's their angle?

Every conspiracy theory pins one culprit and one motive on the same story. The same story can spawn any number of theories — different culprits, different motives. That's part of how you spot a conspiracy theory: the same event can be "explained" any number of ways.

You'll walk through the four moves on separate screens, with a debunk on every step.