Facebook facing privacy lawsuit over what it does with your data
A privacy case at the European Court of Justice starting today could have a huge impact on how Facebook uses people’s private information.
As it stands, your photos and messages travel to America after they leave your phone – and what happens there alarms privacy campaigners.
The case, brought by activist law student Max Schrems, centres around how private data from European users is sent to the U.S. – where it could potentially be accessed by U.S. spy agencies.
The case centres on what happens to people’s private information – such as photos and messages – once in U.S. servers.
Revelations from former U.S. government contractor Edward Snowden suggested that America’s National Security Agency had access to
Schrems has brought a series of actions against Facebook relating to privacy, and has formed an advocacy group, Europe versus Facebook.
Earlier this year, a report for a European privacy watchdog found that ‘too much burden’ was placed on Facebook users who wanted to make their posts private – and concluded that the network was breaking European laws.
The University of Leuven researchers said, ‘ Most of Facebook’s “new” policies and terms are simply old practices made more explicit. Our analysis indicates, however, that Facebook is acting in violation of European law.
‘Facebook places too much burden on its users. Users are expected to navigate Facebook’s complex web of settings (which include “Privacy”, “Apps”, “Adds”, “Followers”, etc.) in search of possible opt-outs.’
The social network also did not give users enough information on how their personal data would be gathered and then used by advertisers.
The report was drawn up for Belgium’s privacy watchdog after Facebook quietly updated its privacy policy in late January.
MORE: Facebook’s new privacy policy is ‘against the law’, watchdog claims
