Why Trading Privacy for 'Free' Web Services Must End

### Executive Summary: The article criticizes Meta's proposed "pay or OK" subscription model as coercive consent that forces users to either pay for privacy or accept tracking, arguing it undermines EU privacy principles and may sidestep opt-out expectations; it references historical data-handling failures by big tech and calls for stronger regulation. The piece concludes with practical consumer protections—use privacy-focused browsers and VPNs, manage social media privacy settings, delete unnecessary personal data, opt out of data brokers, and stay informed about GDPR/CCPA rights—to mitigate privacy risks.