Opinion: Why IDN Radio Is Leaving Facebook — Privacy Shouldn't Be a Luxury

By IDN Radio – August 2025

At IDN Radio, we’ve always believed in one simple principle: you shouldn’t have to pay to protect your privacy.

But Facebook (Meta) now forces European users into a stark ultimatum — either consent to being tracked across the web, or pay a monthly fee just to use the platform without ads. As of July 2025, users who don’t actively make a choice are locked out. No message, no music, no memories. Just a wall demanding surrender or payment.

This model, known as “pay or consent,” might seem like a fair trade to some. But let’s be clear: it’s not a choice — it’s coercion dressed in legalese.

💰 Privacy as a Paywall

Meta claims to be complying with EU privacy law. But in reality, this approach turns privacy into a premium feature, something only accessible to those who can afford it. If you don’t want to be tracked, you must pay. If you can’t pay, your data becomes the price of admission.

Imagine if a bank told you: “Pay €10 a month, or we’ll sell your transaction history.” Would that be acceptable?

🔁 False Consent

In a world where nearly everything — news, events, communication — happens online, platforms like Facebook aren’t optional for everyone. When the only way to use a global social network is to agree to surveillance or start paying, that consent isn’t “freely given” at all. It’s extracted under pressure.

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) demands meaningful, informed, and freely given consent. This isn’t that.

📡 What It Means for Independent Media

As a small, independent radio station, IDN Radio has used Facebook to connect with listeners, promote live shows, and share community stories. But we refuse to play along with this model.

We don’t accept that users should be digitally profiled in exchange for access. We don’t want to funnel our community into a system that monetizes their personal lives. So we’re stepping back.

For now, we’ve left Facebook — and we’re inviting our audience to join us on a privacy-respecting alternative:
👉 t.me/IDN

🚨 Big Tech Can't Self-Regulate

This situation proves once again that we can’t rely on tech giants to do the right thing voluntarily. They’ll comply with the letter of the law — and then twist it to preserve their business model.

That’s why stronger regulation, enforcement, and viable alternatives are essential. Users deserve a real choice. Not just between paying and being tracked, but between systems that respect their rights by design.

🎤 Our Promise

IDN Radio will continue to stand for transparency, independence, and digital dignity. Our voice will be just as loud — whether or not we’re on Facebook.

We hope others in the media world will join us in asking hard questions and seeking better tools. Privacy is not a luxury. It’s a right.