Users of Instagram and Facebook Should have more control over How Their Timelines are organized. A Judge in Amsterdam Ruled this on Thursday. Meta Must Adjust its Apps Accordingly Within Two Weeks.
The Court Ruling is a major Victory for Bits of Freedom. The Foundation, which for Digital Civil Rights, had SUED Meta.
Bits of Freedom Wanted to Enforce that it should be Easier for Users to Switch Timelines. By default, people on Facebook and Instagram are shown an overview that is filled with messages, photos, and videos by an algorithm. This is based on people’s interests. People can choose a different timeline with only messages from friends, but that is not saved by the apps.
The Amsterdam Judge Rules That the Way Facebook and Instagram are designed Violates the European Digital Service Act. Therefore, Meta Must Ensure That Its Apps Are Adjusted Within Two Week.
Accordance to the Judge, there is a so-called ‘Dark Patternt’, which Infringes on the Freedom of Information Gathering. People must be able to decide which messages they see on their timeline. They are not given enough or a chante to do so now, accordance to the ruling.
The Change Should Ensure That Users Can More Easily Switch between Different Timelines. The Choice Must then Be Remembered by the Apps and Not Revert to the Algorithmic Timeline Upon Restart, As is Currently the Default.