San Francisco Frontiers - Facebook, Instagram to offer paid ad-free UK subscriptions

Starting in the coming weeks, UK-based users can opt out of personalised ads by paying a monthly fee of £2.99 ($4) on the web, or £3.99 via iOS and Android apps.

The US tech giant said the move comes "in response to recent UK regulatory guidance," noting that the subscription model gives users a choice over whether to allow personalised ads.

The UK price will be lower than what is offered in the European Union, where ad-free subscriptions start at 5.99 euros ($7) per month.

Meta first announced its ad-free option in the EU at the end of 2023 to comply with tougher regulation intended to rein in big tech.

The company has long profited from selling user data to advertisers but this business model has led to multiple battles with regulators over data privacy.

The European data regulator last year told Meta it must not force users to pay for the right to data protection, pushing the company to tweak its model.

Meta on Friday criticised the "overreach" of regulators in the EU, where it must provide a version of its platforms with "less personalised" ads.

It meanwhile welcomed the "constructive approach" of the British privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office.

The ICO said the subscription option would allow Meta to comply with UK law.

S.Jackson--SFF