We filed a complaint against Meta
Meta makes it difficult for users to choose a feed that is not based on profiling and keep it that way. We believe this is a violation of the Digital Services Act and filed a complaint.
A feed option that is not based on profiling
The Digital Services Act requires very large online platforms—including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram—to offer at least one news feed option that is not based on profiling. This alternative news feed must be directly and easily accessible for users. Although Meta has made alternative feeds available, such as a chronological feed, they cannot be set as the default. Thereby, Meta makes it harder for users to opt for a feed that is not driven by profiling and sensationalism. We believe this is a violation of the DSA.
“Meta uses design tricks to steer users toward a profiling-based feed, which harms both their privacy and freedom of choice.”
Meta's sensationalist algorithms
The obligation set out in the DSA is meant to enable people to protect themselves against Meta’s sensationalist and toxic content algorithms. By using deceptive interface designs, Meta makes it unnecessarily difficult for people to do so.
“Recommendation systems largely determine how much time we spend with which content on social media. They have a significant impact on our lives and mental well-being. Meta makes it extremely difficult for users to choose an alternative feed and take control over their own online experience," states Jürgen Bering, lawyer at Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF).
Meta's recommendation algorithms are one of the company’s main profit drivers. Its profiling-based feed more effectively captures users' attention and maximizes their time-spent on the platform. More time on the platform means more advertisements shown, which directly increases Meta’s revenue. The company, therefore, has a clear financial incentive to keep users on the profiling-based feed, even against their will.
The complaint
We filed this complaint in collaboration with EDRi, GFF, and Convocation Design + Research. We filed it in Ireland on behalf of an Irish Facebook and Instagram user. The competent regulatory authority is Ireland’s Media Commission, as Meta is headquartered in Ireland.