Dutch court orders Meta to change its Facebook and Instagram timelines

A Dutch court has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to change the timelines on its platforms. The court found that the current algorithm-driven timelines violate the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires companies to provide users with simpler options that do not rely on algorithms. The court ruled that Meta must allow users to choose a chronological or other non-profiled timeline, instead of reverting to the algorithm-driven version when the app is closed and reopened. The case was brought by Bits of Freedom, a Dutch digital rights group, who argued that it is unacceptable for "American tech billionaires" to determine how people view the world. Meta plans to appeal the decision, stating that these DSA issues should be handled by the European Commission and other EU regulators, not individual national courts. The company faces a potential fine of up to $5.8 million if it fails to comply with the court's order. The DSA has been a persistent issue for big tech companies, with the European Commission levying hundreds of millions in fines for violations.