Meta fails to comply with court order, evades accountability

When the Dutch House of Representatives asked Meta to explain how its platforms influence elections, the company refused to show up. Now, Meta is also ignoring a court order requiring Meta to make its non-profiling timeline directly and easily accessible. According to the digital human rights organization Bits of Freedom, this is yet another example of Meta shirking its social responsibility.

What is this about?

Early October, the Amsterdam District Court ruled in favour of Bits of Freedom in its preliminary injunction against Meta. Bits of Freedom demanded that Meta allow Instagram and Facebook users to set a timeline not based on profiling as their preferred option. The court ruled that Meta is indeed in violation of the Digital Services Act (DSA).

The court stated that Meta’s actions “run counter to the purpose of the DSA, namely to ensure that users genuinely have autonomy, freedom of choice, and control over how information is presented to them.” The court also concluded that the way Meta has designed its platforms constitutes a “serious infringement of the autonomy of Facebook and Instagram users.” The court ordered Meta to modify its apps within two weeks.

What’s the current situation?

More than two weeks later, Meta still has not complied with the court order. The company claims that it would be impossible to make the required adjustments in time. Therefore, it has asked the court for an extension until 31 January 2026. The Amsterdam Court of Appeal will consider Meta’s request on Monday, 27 October 2025.

What does Bits of Freedom think?

Bits of Freedom is not happy. According to the organisation, this is yet another example of Meta evading its societal responsibilities. Recently, Meta also refused to account for the influence of its platforms on elections when the House of Representatives requested it to do so.

“Lawmakers want it, experts say it’s possible, and the court says it must be done. Yet Meta still fails to bring its platforms into compliance with our laws. It’s an affront to our democratic rule of law and to the judiciary. Outrageous, but unfortunately also what we’ve come to expect from Meta. We’re glad the court has made time to address this matter on very short notice. Users deserve clarity,” said Evelyn Austin, Executive Director of Bits of Freedom.

What happens next?

The hearing is scheduled for Monday, 27 October 2025 at 10:00 hrs at the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. Meta has also filed an appeal against the preliminary injunction ruling. No date has yet been set for that hearing.