Meta claims it has already adjusted its systems to meet EU obligations but argues that such regulatory issues should be addressed by the European Commission rather than national courts.

This design flaw, which defaults users to algorithm-driven timelines when apps are closed, was deemed a violation of EU rules and a form of manipulation undermining user autonomy.

Meta announced it plans to appeal the ruling, claiming it has already made significant system changes to comply with the EU's Digital Services Act and suggests regulatory issues should be addressed at the European level.

The court stressed that current platform practices hinder users' ability to make free choices about personalization, violating their right to information during critical democratic processes.

A Dutch court has ruled that Meta must provide users with an option to select a non-profile-based, chronological feed on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, emphasizing the importance of user autonomy.

The ruling highlights that Dutch users must have genuine freedom to choose their content recommendation settings, especially with the upcoming general election on October 29, emphasizing the importance of informed, autonomous decision-making.

The court has given Meta two weeks to revise its app to include a non-personalized feed option and prevent automatic switching back to personalized feeds, with fines of €100,000 per day for non-compliance.

The court found that current platform designs violate the EU's Digital Services Act by using 'dark patterns' that automatically revert users to personalized timelines, infringing on their right to free and autonomous choice.

Meta is required to modify its app behavior to respect user preferences, ensuring that choices about feeds are preserved across sessions and app restarts, or face substantial fines.

Meta's current design subtly pushes users toward interest-based feeds, hiding non-profiled options and restricting access to features like Direct Messages for alternative feeds.

The court ordered Meta to prevent automatic reversion to personalized feeds and to ensure user choices are maintained, reinforcing user autonomy.

The court's decision is a significant step in strengthening EU citizens' control over their online content and increasing pressure on tech giants to comply with stricter regulations.

The lawsuit accused Meta of violating the Digital Services Act by limiting user control over content recommendations, especially during election periods, which the court upheld.