Irish Data Protection Commission Encouraged Norwegian Complainant to Settle GDPR Case with Meta (euobserver.com)

• Norwegian citizen filed GDPR complaint against Meta in 2024.
• Irish DPC asked complainant to settle in April 2026.
• Complainant refused; EDPB guidelines restrict settlements affecting many data subjects.
• Meta's 'pay-or-consent' model deemed incompatible with GDPR by EDPB.
• Former Meta spokesperson appointed as Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner.

"A Norwegian citizen filed a GDPR complaint against Meta in 2024 over data processing for marketing. The case was transferred to Ireland's DPC, Meta's lead regulator. In April 2026, the DPC asked the complainant to settle. The complainant refused. EDPB guidelines restrict settlements when many data subjects are affected. Meta's 'pay-or-consent' model has been deemed incompatible with GDPR. Critics highlight close ties between the DPC and Meta, including the appointment of a former Meta spokesperson as Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner."