28/09/2025
👉To Artists:
share this petition it in your networks, Sign it, and raise awareness of this dangerous precedent!
Meta (Facebook/Instagram) has introduced a new practice that represents a particularly serious violation of our fundamental rights: the forced submission of video selfies for account verification.
This is only the latest in a long series of data protection violations by the company - from cross-website tracking, to the creation of shadow profiles, to the opaque sharing of data between Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
We call on the responsible supervisory authorities of the European Union - in particular, the European Commission and the European Data Protection Supervisor - to immediately put an end to this disproportionate practice and enforce compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Why this practice is unacceptable:
Forced consent to biometric data collection
When Meta suspects an account of violating community guidelines, users are required to verify their identity with a video selfie.
👉An ultimatum situation
The choice is: either upload the requested video selfie or the account will be deactivated or remain locked. No real alternative is offered. This amounts to coerced consent, which is unlawful under the GDPR.
👉Collection of highly sensitive biometric data
A video selfie does not just capture facial features but also movements such as blinking or turning the head. These biometric data fall into the category of especially sensitive personal data under the GDPR.
👉Questionable processing by AI
Meta claims that the videos are analyzed solely by artificial intelligence (AI) and then deleted. Doubts remain: Is deletion truly complete and verifiable? Are biometric data being repurposed for AI training? Moreover, the reliability of these systems and their potential biases are highly controversial.
Violation of the principle of data minimization
👉There are far less invasive methods of identity verification - for example, uploading an ID document with non-essential information blacked out. Collecting biometric data is the most invasive option and clearly violates the principle of data minimization enshrined in the GDPR.
👉We call for:
An immediate ban on this practice within the EU.
Strict enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Protection of citizens from the misuse of highly sensitive biometric data.
👉To Artists:
share this petition it in your networks, Sign it, and raise awareness of this dangerous precedent!
Together we can stop corporations like Meta from continually pushing the boundaries of data protection - at the expense of our rights and our freedom.
