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German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal

reuters.com

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Re: German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal

#11

Post by microcolonel »

neuland wrote: post #7

If the appeal doesn't go Facebook's way, what is the resolution to this? It sounds like they'll just have to update their terms of service to say that you agree to allow Facebook to use your data in XYZ ways. Of course, that'll be buried in the fine print and no-one will even notice.

> It sounds like they'll just have to update their terms of service to say that you agree to allow Facebook to use your data in XYZ ways. Of course, that'll be buried in the fine print and no-one will even notice.

If you read the first paragraph of the article, you'll notice that that is in fact the thing that the court is talking about: the degree of consent created by their terms of service process is deemed insufficient for the disclosure that agreement covers.

Re: German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal

#12

Post by 23443463455 »

This is kind of a typical German/socialist heavy handed approach to things. I don't agree that it should be illegal if you want to share it, but there needs to be a mechanism to give control over data back to users. This may be a bit too advanced for people, but we are really talking about a kind of digital slavery that Facebook and the like are engaged in; the taking of one's free choice and liberty and the fruits of one's labor to sustain the lifestyle of others against their will. It would be a different matter if all of this were transparent and above board, if you were told you are worth $800 per year to Facebook and $1,500 to Google and $700 to Amazon, etc. and that using their services comes with that cost. But you are told or given the impression that it is all "Free", while they harvest you and your information and data.

This is really a question about liberty and freedom and personal agency. I don't even think people quite realize just how much of themselves and their value and freedom they give up to Google, Facebook, Amazon, etc.

For all the self-destruction of Germany that Merkel's de facto communist dictatorship is bearing down on the German and European people through cultural genocide, at least the country is getting one thing right.

Can I just plug the MIT Solid project at this point, that seems to be attempting to give users control over their lives and person's again to break free of this age of digital slavery.

Re: German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal

#13

Post by 45h34jh53k4j »

peoplewindow wrote: post #5

I think if I was creating a new social media website today I'd probably not set up any presence in the EU. The sheer quantity of fines for vaguely specified "crimes" being handed out makes it a deeply unattractive business environment and it seems to be getting worse. I remember when Facebook was new, one of its big competitive advantages was its easy and comprehensive privacy controls. I didn't see other social netw…

From the other side of the coin, I think if your business model is based on the exploitation of peoples data, the EU doesn't want your 'SV disruption'.

From https://www.wired.com/story/inside-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-... it would appear that these lessons are being learned, somewhat slowly.

Re: German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal

#14

Post by lima »

peoplewindow wrote: post #5

I think if I was creating a new social media website today I'd probably not set up any presence in the EU. The sheer quantity of fines for vaguely specified "crimes" being handed out makes it a deeply unattractive business environment and it seems to be getting worse. I remember when Facebook was new, one of its big competitive advantages was its easy and comprehensive privacy controls. I didn't see other social netw…

Deeply unattractive business environment for companies exploiting people's personal data without their consent?

Good.

Re: German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal

#16

Post by 23443463455 »

paxy wrote: post #4

The ruling and article only mention Facebook but I don't see how everything in it doesn't apply to every single app/website that does targeted advertising.

It would, in essence, but you can't really list every obscure site, can you now? Facebook is the most public offender of this even if Google's offenses may be more prolific, but it's not as in people's face as facebook.

Re: German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal

#17

Post by shadowtree »

peoplewindow wrote: post #5

I think if I was creating a new social media website today I'd probably not set up any presence in the EU. The sheer quantity of fines for vaguely specified "crimes" being handed out makes it a deeply unattractive business environment and it seems to be getting worse. I remember when Facebook was new, one of its big competitive advantages was its easy and comprehensive privacy controls. I didn't see other social netw…

1., If you store data of EU residents, you are under EU jurisdiction (GDPR) and can be targeted by fines.

2., The EU is a very rich, large market - considered the single largest economy in the world (GDP per capita). Good luck not targeting it with your products.

3., The pendulum around data protection is swinging back, this is normal. Apple saw it and adjusted already. Google is cooperating and staying quiet. Only FB is stupid enough to fight in courts.

Re: German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal

#19

Post by visarga »

peoplewindow wrote: post #5

I think if I was creating a new social media website today I'd probably not set up any presence in the EU. The sheer quantity of fines for vaguely specified "crimes" being handed out makes it a deeply unattractive business environment and it seems to be getting worse. I remember when Facebook was new, one of its big competitive advantages was its easy and comprehensive privacy controls. I didn't see other social netw…

> today I'd probably not set up any presence in the EU

Facebook is a national security risk and should not be let to reign free as it likes. I see no problem if we tame a vulnerability - the way it handles our personal data, how it uses it to push ads and politics, how it influences elections by tweaking the feeds. Not to mention that it doesn't like to pay taxes in EU.

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