Editing Consent-or-pay (section)

==Response==

===Regulatory perspectives===
In 2024, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) published a non-binding opinion on "Valid Consent in the Context of Consent or Pay Models Implemented by Large Online Platforms." The opinion stated that consent-or-pay models often do not constitute valid consent and that users should be provided with an "equivalent alternative." Furthermore, it noted that if a payment model is offered, the alternative should not involve processing personal data. Consent is not considered valid if users feel compelled to choose a particular option.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=EDPB: 'Consent or Pay' models should offer real choice |url=https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2024/edpb-consent-or-pay-models-should-offer-real-choice_en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250711204531/https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2024/edpb-consent-or-pay-models-should-offer-real-choice_en |archive-date=11 Jul 2025 |access-date=1 Sep 2025 |website=European Data Protection Board}}</ref>

Anu Talus, Chair of the EDPB, said:<blockquote>"Online platforms should give users a real choice when employing 'consent or pay' models. The models we have today usually require individuals to either give away all their data or to pay. As a result most users consent to the processing in order to use a service, and they do not understand the full implications of their choices."<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

===Consumer advocacy groups===
The data protection advocacy organization ''[[NOYB|noyb]]'', based in Austria, focuses on GDPR compliance and violations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://noyb.eu/en/about-us |website=noyb}}</ref> In November 2023, the group filed a complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority against Meta, arguing that the company lacked "any valid legal basis for [pay-or-okay]. [...] Meta is now trying to extort supposed consent from its users with a 'yes or pay' choice".<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Nov 2023 |title=COMPLAINT UNDER ARTICLE 77(1) GDPR |url=https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2023-11/Complaint%20-%20Meta%20Pay%20or%20Okay%20-%20REDACTED.pdf |website=noyb - European Centre for Digital Rights}}</ref> The complaint cited the cost of rejecting personalized ads, which was €12.99 per month for [[Facebook]] and €8 per month for [[Instagram]], amounting to a combined annual total of €251.88.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Nov 2023 |title=noyb files GDPR complaint against Meta over "Pay or Okay" |url=https://noyb.eu/en/noyb-files-gdpr-complaint-against-meta-over-pay-or-okay |website=noyb}}</ref> ''noyb'' expressed concern that Meta's approach could set a precedent for other platforms, potentially increasing the cost of data protection for users.