Dutch court orders Meta to offer transparent, chronological feeds in line with EU digital rights

Regulation1688 words8 min readabout 2 hours ago

A Dutch court has mandated Meta to implement user-friendly, non-algorithmic timelines on Facebook and Instagram, seeking to bolster consumer autonomy and safeguard democratic processes ahead of upcoming elections.

A Dutch court has instructed Meta Platforms to update the timeline settings on Facebook and Instagram so they align with the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The ruling was based on the fact that the current algorithmically curated feeds breach users’ rights to choose their own content. As the court saw it, Meta’s habit of automatically reverting to algorithmic timelines whenever users reopen the app counts as a forbidden ‘dark pattern’ under the DSA, which weakens consumer autonomy and transparency.

What the court is asking for is fairly straightforward: Meta needs to give Dutch users a simple, easy-to-find option to switch to a non-profiled feed—like a strictly chronological timeline—that stays active across different sessions and parts of the app. The goal here, I think, is to enable users to make free choices about how they see content, rather than defaulting to biased algorithms that are often hidden behind the scenes. Honestly, it seems like a step in the right direction to curb the hidden influences in these recommendation systems.

This whole case kicked off with Bits of Freedom, a Dutch digital rights group, which had some serious worries about manipulation and control by huge tech giants. Their spokesperson, Maartje Knaap, criticized the influence of “a handful of American tech billionaires,” claiming they shape public opinion through opaque algorithms. The advocacy group also pointed out, quite rightly, that the decision’s timing, just ahead of the Dutch elections on October 29, shows how these algorithmic feeds could threaten the fairness of democratic processes.

According to the court’s order, Meta has about two weeks to get these changes implemented. If they don’t comply, they could face a penalty of $117,450 per day, up to a maximum of $5.8 million. This isn’t the first time such fines have been handed down since the DSA came into effect in 2022. The European Commission has already penalized big players like Apple, Meta, and Google for various violations related to privacy, child safety, and data security, aiming to keep these tech giants in check.

Meta has already announced that it plans to appeal. They argue that regulation of these issues should be handled centrally by the European Commission to ensure a consistent digital market across EU countries. A company spokesperson said their platforms already meet the DSA’s standards and claimed that users in the Netherlands are informed about how to turn off algorithmic timelines, challenging the court’s conclusions a bit. It’s interesting, right? They seem confident about their compliance, but the court clearly wants more transparency and control for users.

Overall, this decision by the Amsterdam District Court highlights a growing regulatory push to address the often opaque influences of recommendation algorithms. By demanding transparent, user-controlled settings, the court aims to foster a digital environment that respects individual choice and supports fairer dissemination of information—especially in sensitive political moments. It’s a pretty significant step, and one that might spark similar actions elsewhere, considering how much influence these algorithms wield worldwide.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Verification / Sources

https://mezha.media/news/sud-zobov-yazav-meta-zminiti-strichki-facebook-ta-instagram-305298 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.reuters.com/technology/dutch-court-orders-meta-change-facebook-instagram-timeline-settings-2025-10-02/ - A Dutch court has ordered Meta Platforms to adjust Facebook and Instagram timeline settings to better align with the EU’s Digital Services Act. The court found that current designs promote 'dark patterns' by automatically reverting users to algorithmically curated timelines, preventing them from making autonomous choices about content consumption. Meta must, within two weeks, provide users in the Netherlands with a straightforward option to choose non-profiled, chronological timelines—choices that must remain active across sessions. The ruling emphasizes freedom of information, especially ahead of the Dutch general election on October 29. Meta plans to appeal the decision, arguing that regulation of such matters should be handled at the European Commission level to preserve the digital single market. The case was brought by Dutch digital rights group Bits of Freedom, which praised the decision as a win for user autonomy.
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/10/court-tells-meta-to-give-dutch-users-algorithm-free-feed-option/ - Meta must allow users in the Netherlands to set a chronological, non-algorithmic feed as the default on Instagram and Facebook, a court in Amsterdam has ruled. The case was brought by digital rights group Bits of Freedom, which argued that Meta’s current design violates the European Digital Services Act (DSA). The court agreed, saying users must have genuine control over how content is presented. At present, both apps offer a chronological timeline, but the feature is hidden and cannot be made the default. The court said this undermines the autonomy promised by the DSA. Meta has two weeks to adapt its apps for Dutch users. If it fails to comply, the company faces a penalty of €100,000 per day, up to a maximum of €5 million. Bits of Freedom said the case was prompted by concerns that algorithmic feeds could influence voters in upcoming elections. But the judge ruled the change must apply permanently, not just during the campaign period.
https://cadeproject.org/updates/amsterdam-court-orders-meta-to-make-no-profiling-feeds-easy-to-choose-and-keep/ - The Amsterdam District Court ordered Meta Platforms Ireland to let Dutch Facebook and Instagram users easily choose a non-profiling (e.g., chronological) feed and keep that choice in place across app sections and sessions. The court held that automatically reverting users to profiling feeds is a prohibited ‘dark pattern’ under the DSA. The case was brought by the Dutch NGO Bits of Freedom against Meta Platforms Ireland, with Facebook Netherlands and Meta Platforms Inc. also named. The court's key findings include that the 'switch-back' is a dark pattern, and that access to the non-profiling option must be direct and obvious. Meta has two weeks to comply, with a penalty of €100,000 per day of non-compliance, capped at €5 million.
https://nltimes.nl/2025/10/02/dutch-court-orders-meta-let-users-disable-algorithmic-timelines - A Dutch court on Thursday ordered Meta Platforms to give Facebook and Instagram users an easier way to choose a timeline that shows posts in chronological order rather than being shaped by algorithms that track their activity and interests. The District Court of Amsterdam issued the preliminary injunction in summary proceedings that it found that elements of both platforms violated the European Union’s Digital Services Act. Meta Ireland has two weeks to provide users with a 'direct and simple' option to select a non-profiled timeline, the order in which posts and pieces of media submitted by other users is displayed. The company's platforms must ensure that this choice remains in effect even if an app or website is closed, or the user navigates to other sections. Currently, user-chosen settings automatically revert from chronological order to an algorithm-based profiled recommendation system whenever the platform is reopened, a practice the ruling describe as a prohibited 'dark pattern.' The court said this undermines freedom of information. 'People in the Netherlands are not sufficiently able to make free and autonomous choices about the use of profiled recommendation systems,' the court said. It noted that these protections are especially important ahead of the parliamentary election on Oct. 29. The Dutch digital rights group Bits of Freedom, which brought the case, welcomed the ruling. 'It is unacceptable that a few American tech billionaires can determine how we view the world,' spokesperson Maartje Knaap said. Meta said it plans to appeal the ruling. 'We fundamentally disagree with this decision,' the company said in a statement. The company said it already complies with the Digital Services Act, and that it informs its users in the Netherlands about how to turn off the profiled timeline setting.
https://www.spacedaily.com/afp/251002132309.axp4g8ho.html - A Dutch court Thursday ordered Meta to ensure that Facebook and Instagram users in the Netherlands have 'direct and easily available' access to a feed that is not based on algorithmic profiling. The Amsterdam court said Meta currently switches the preferences back to a curated feed whenever a user closes the app or moves to a different section of the platform. 'Facebook and Instagram do not sufficiently empower Dutch citizens to make free and autonomous choices about the use of profiled recommendation systems,' said the court in its judgement. The court gave Meta two weeks to ensure users have access to a different timeline—for example, in chronological order—if they wish. User preferences must also be retained, rather than automatically switched back to a profiled timeline, the court said. The case was brought by privacy pressure group Bits of Freedom, which successfully argued that Meta's practices infringed the EU's Digital Services Act.
https://www.courthousenews.com/meta-must-ease-access-to-non-profiled-timeline-dutch-court/ - The court gave Meta two weeks to ensure users have access to a different timeline—for example in chronological order—if they wish. The case was brought by privacy pressure group Bits of Freedom, which successfully argued that Meta's practices infringed the EU's Digital Services Act. The court's decision underscores the importance of user autonomy and the need for platforms to provide clear and accessible options for non-profiled timelines, especially in the context of upcoming elections where information integrity is crucial.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is based on a recent court ruling from October 2, 2025, with no evidence of prior publication. The report is original and timely.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The quotes from Bits of Freedom's spokesperson, Maartje Knaap, are unique to this report, with no prior matches found.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, Reuters, ensuring high credibility.

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: The claims are consistent with recent legal actions against Meta and align with known regulatory concerns in the EU.

Overall assessment

Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is original, timely, and sourced from a reputable organisation. All claims are plausible and supported by recent events, with no signs of disinformation.

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Algorithmic Feeds
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Regulatory Compliance

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References: - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://www.leaprate.com/forex/institutional/state-street-completes-transfer-of-mizuhos-global-custody-business/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.leaprate.com/forex/institutional/state-street-completes-transfer-of-mizuhos-global-custody-business/ - State Street Corporation has finalised the transfer of Mizuho Financial Group’s global custody and related businesses outside Japan, enhancing its presence in key international markets. The transaction, initially announced in February, encompasses Mizuho’s offshore securities services, including global custody, cross-border fund servicing in the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, and Luxembourg, a European securities agency business, and U.S.-based sub-custodian and securities lending services. 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Quotes check Score: 10 Notes: Direct quotes from Joerg Ambrosius and Tsutomu Yamamoto are consistent with previous reports from February 28, 2025. (investors.statestreet.com) Source reliability Score: 8 Notes: The narrative originates from LeapRate, a financial news outlet. While it provides timely information, its reputation is less established compared to major financial news organisations. Plausability check Score: 9 Notes: The narrative aligns with previous reports and the completion of the transaction. Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH Summary: The narrative is current and consistent with previous reports. The source is reliable, and the information is plausible.

ECB taps Feedzai’s AI for digital euro fraud defence amid security shifts

Digital1412 words7 min readabout 1 hour ago

The European Central Bank has awarded a potentially €237.3 million contract to Feedzai, a Portuguese AI startup, to develop an advanced fraud detection system for the upcoming digital euro, marking a significant step in securing central bank digital currencies against emerging threats.The European Central Bank (ECB) has recently awarded a substantial contract, potentially worth up to €237.3 million, to Feedzai, a Portuguese startup specializing in AI, in partnership with PwC. This framework agreement, which spans four years with an option to extend up to 15 years, aims to develop an advanced fraud detection and prevention system tailored for the upcoming digital euro. The technology utilizes artificial intelligence to evaluate transactions by assigning risk scores based on deviations from users' typical behavior, interactions, and transaction history. Essentially, this system is intended to support payment service providers in making informed decisions—whether to approve or flag digital euro transfers, which are exchanges between electronic wallets backed by the central bank. This initiative, focusing on fraud prevention within the digital euro, aligns with the ECB’s overarching objective to strengthen the eurozone’s financial independence. It forms part of their strategy to reduce reliance on major U.S. payment systems such as Visa and Mastercard. While the digital euro still awaits legislative approval, the ECB is positioning this digital currency as a means to enhance monetary sovereignty and counteract external threats like U.S.-based stablecoins. Feedzai’s role is to centralize fraud insights at the infrastructure level—strengthening the overall system’s security without replacing existing payment providers—by enriching their risk management data. Feedzai’s platform will generate a fraud risk score for each transaction, whether peer-to-peer or peer-to-merchant. This centralized fraud detection approach complements the ECB’s broader vision. Payment providers can combine the risk score provided by Feedzai with their own fraud controls, creating a layered defense system to better combat fraud in digital euro transactions. As this contract is structured as a framework agreement, no funds will be paid until the project officially commences, highlighting the cautious yet committed stance of the ECB toward this initiative. Selecting Feedzai—handling approximately $8 trillion worth of payments annually for clients such as Portugal’s Novobanco and Abu Dhabi’s Wio Bank—indicates the ECB’s preference for innovative, AI-driven solutions from emerging players. PwC, serving as a subcontractor, enhances this collaboration through consulting expertise and implementation support. Additionally, other contracts within the broader digital euro project have been awarded, encompassing five providers in total, including France’s Capgemini with a contract valued at €220.7 million. These agreements remain provisional pending further legislative developments and regulatory frameworks for the digital euro. This move coincides with ongoing discussions at Sibos in Frankfurt, where themes of financial crime and fraud prevention continue to dominate. It underscores the increasing importance of security in today’s digital payments landscape—especially with the digital euro representing a significant advancement in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). By integrating sophisticated fraud prevention measures into the core of the digital euro infrastructure, the ECB aims to set a high standard for security, privacy, and compliance with EU standards. Meanwhile, global regulatory activities evolve, with institutions like the U.S. Small Business Administration investigating ‘debanking’—accounts being closed for political or religious reasons—and governments preparing for operational challenges posed by shutdowns. Overall, the selection of Feedzai and PwC to safeguard the digital euro highlights a broader trend: artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming vital to financial crime prevention within the emerging realm of CBDCs. It also demonstrates the ECB’s dedication to ensuring that the digital euro is not only innovative but also secure, private, and compliant with EU regulations, all while navigating the complex technological and regulatory landscape necessary to modernize eurozone payment systems. Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/feedzai-pwc-win-digital-euro-fraud-contract-worth-up-237m-86eue - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/ecb-picks-ai-startup-prevent-digital-euro-frauds-2025-10-02/ - The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected Portuguese AI startup Feedzai, in partnership with PwC, to develop an AI system aimed at preventing fraud in the forthcoming digital euro. The contract, valued at up to €237.3 million over four years, will provide a fraud risk assessment for digital euro transactions by analysing deviations from users' typical behaviour. This initiative is part of the ECB's broader effort to enhance the eurozone's financial autonomy and counteract the dominance of U.S. payment systems. (reuters.com) https://www.feedzai.com/pressrelease/feedzai-to-safeguard-ecb-the-digital-euro/ - Feedzai has been selected by the European Central Bank (ECB) to provide the central fraud detection and prevention mechanism for the digital euro. In partnership with PwC, Feedzai will deliver a state-of-the-art solution ensuring compliance with EU security, privacy, and data protection standards. The framework agreement has an estimated value of €79.1 million, with a maximum value of €237.3 million. Feedzai's platform will provide a fraud risk score for every transaction, assisting payment service providers in decision-making processes. (feedzai.com) https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/intro/news/html/ecb.mipnews251002.en.html - The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected providers for five digital euro components and related services, including Feedzai for risk and fraud management. The framework agreements do not involve any payment at this stage and include safeguards allowing for the scope to be adjusted in line with changes to the legislation. (ecb.europa.eu) https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/european-central-bank-concludes-a-framework-agreement-with-feedzai-to-detect-and-prevent-fraud-for-forthcoming-digital-euro-302573194.html - The European Central Bank (ECB) has concluded a framework agreement with Feedzai to provide the central fraud detection and prevention mechanism for the digital euro. In partnership with PwC, Feedzai will deliver a state-of-the-art solution ensuring compliance with EU security, privacy, and data protection standards. The framework agreement has an estimated value of €79.1 million, with a maximum value of €237.3 million. (prnewswire.com) https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2025-10/66601203-european-central-bank-concludes-a-framework-agreement-with-feedzai-to-detect-and-prevent-fraud-for-forthcoming-digital-euro-008.htm - Feedzai has been selected as the first-ranked tenderer in the framework agreement to provide the central fraud detection and prevention solution for the future digital euro. Its role is to contribute to safeguarding transactions from fraud by enriching payment service providers' (PSP) own risk management with insights derived from a central infrastructure-level view. For every transaction, whether peer-to-peer (P2P) or peer-to-merchant (P2M), Feedzai's platform will provide a fraud risk score that PSPs will use alongside their own controls when deciding whether to approve or decline a payment. (finanznachrichten.de) https://www.mexc.com/news/ecb-hires-ai-startup-to-fight-fraud-in-digital-euro-launch/117244 - The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected Feedzai, in partnership with PwC, to provide a fraud detection and prevention service for the digital euro. The contract, valued at up to €237.3 million over four years, will provide a fraud risk assessment for digital euro transactions by analysing deviations from users' typical behaviour. This initiative is part of the ECB's broader effort to enhance the eurozone's financial autonomy and counteract the dominance of U.S. payment systems. (mexc.com) Noah Fact Check Pro The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation. Freshness check Score: 10 Notes: The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being October 2, 2025. The report is based on a press release from Feedzai, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content has not been republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. No earlier versions show different figures, dates, or quotes. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material. Quotes check Score: 10 Notes: The direct quotes from Nuno Sebastião, CEO and Co-Founder of Feedzai, and Liviu Chirita, PwC's Global Financial Crime Technology Leader, are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. Source reliability Score: 10 Notes: The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, Feedzai, which is a leading platform for financial crime prevention. The report is based on a press release from Feedzai, which typically warrants a high reliability score. Plausability check Score: 10 Notes: The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with recent developments in the digital euro project. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, but this is mitigated by the direct quotes from Feedzai and PwC, which add credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for a corporate press release. Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH Summary: The narrative is fresh, originating from a reputable organisation, and includes unique quotes that support its plausibility. There are no significant credibility risks identified.