Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, is planning to offer ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram to users in Europe, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The move is a response to the European Union’s strict data privacy rules, which require Meta to obtain consent from users before showing them personalized ads. Meta hopes that by giving users the option to pay for an ad-free experience, it can avoid losing revenue and comply with the regulations.

The report says that Meta is proposing to charge about 10 euros ($10.50) a month for using one account on a desktop browser without ads, and about 6 euros ($6.30) for each additional linked account. For mobile users, the price would be higher, at around 13 euros ($13.60) a month, to account for the commissions charged by Apple and Google on in-app purchases. Meta is reportedly aiming to launch the paid subscriptions in the coming months, after getting feedback from EU regulators.

The report also says that Meta will continue to offer free access to its products for users who do not want to pay and agree to share their data for personalized ads. However, some EU regulators may not be satisfied with this option and may demand that Meta offer cheaper versions or allow users to opt out of ads without paying. The report cites unnamed sources familiar with the proposal, and Meta has not officially confirmed or denied it.

Source: The Verge