In response to unlawful personal data collection concerns, the Italian antitrust authority has taken action against tech giant Meta. Last Friday, they announced they are looking into the company’s potential violation of a freedom abuse of dominant market position in relation to music rights. These rights are regulated by the prominent Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE). Meta’s platforms, such as Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook, have potentially been affected by this.
The intense dispute between Meta and the SIAE started when the two parties had difficulties in renewing the copyright licenses. Thus, from the 16th of March, any music published by the SIAE were barred from the various Meta platforms. Italy’s data protection authority recommends Meta to re-initiate negotiations with SIAE and to refrain from barring competition in the market or deterring consumers from using the other platforms available.
Meanwhile, in a separate matter, Italy was responsible for banning the AI chatbot ChatGPT, through OpenAI, from early February due to its violation of privacy laws. Italy’s data protection authority has, however, expressed its willingness to possibly retract the ban by April 30, should OpenAI take the necessary steps.
Meta is a digital product and service company founded over a decade ago in San Francisco. It is well known for its various platforms, such as Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook, as well as its online store offering music and copyright protection for the various digital products. Meta is headquartered in San Francisco with offices around the world.
Pasquale Stanzione is an Italian lawyer and chief of the Italy’s Data Protection Authority. In the latest dispute between Meta and the SIAE, he has asserted that Meta’s actions are hindering market competition and suggested that the ban on ChatGPT may be lifted by the 30th of April if the OpenAI complies with Italy’s privacy laws.
