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Meta wants EU users to apply for permission to opt out of data collection

arstechnica.com

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Re: Meta wants EU users to apply for permission to opt out of data collection

#21

Post by londons_explore »

steveridout wrote: post #13
siquick wrote: post #3

What about the 15 years of behavioural data they already hold? Can we request that is deleted?

GDPR obliges them to delete your data upon request. But I'm not sure how well Facebook/Meta complies with this. This post from 4 years ago doesn't sound encouraging: https://ruben.verborgh.org/facebook/ Does anyone know if they've improved since then?

Data which is not personally identifiable does not fall under the GDPR. Meta will use this excuse for most data which isn't tied to an active facebook account.

Re: Meta wants EU users to apply for permission to opt out of data collection

#22

Post by gman83 »

bilekas wrote: post #12

This is still a bit insane to me. If I understand correct, you have to fill a form with a justification why you object, and then Meta will decide if you can be removed from the detailed data collection ? Privacy is a basic human right, and the strawman argument of "Well don't just use their services then" is ridiculous with their influence. Also them touting to "connected the world" When in reality is "connecting to…

In terms of Facebook where I live, "Well don't just use their services then" is simply impossible. Almost all of my kids' sports activities and parent groups are on WhatsApp, I have to use it.

Re: Meta wants EU users to apply for permission to opt out of data collection

#23

Post by that_guy_iain »

bilekas wrote: post #12

This is still a bit insane to me. If I understand correct, you have to fill a form with a justification why you object, and then Meta will decide if you can be removed from the detailed data collection ? Privacy is a basic human right, and the strawman argument of "Well don't just use their services then" is ridiculous with their influence. Also them touting to "connected the world" When in reality is "connecting to…

I'm pretty sure it's already been decided that Meta's data collection is a breach of EU laws. Which if true, this opt-out still isn't really going to do anything.

Re: Meta wants EU users to apply for permission to opt out of data collection

#24

Post by charcircuit »

antoniojtorres wrote: post #11
charcircuit wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, this form is about right to object. It isn't about consent because consent is not needed for legitimate interests, which in this case is to offer personalized advertising. This form lets people object to the use of their data for a legitimate interest.

I find it incredible that they are bold enough to try to pass this as legitimate interest when the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) is currently neck deep with the Belgian DPA over that very matter. Legitimate Interest is supposed to be used for thinks like fraud prevention, not for added value things like highly target advertising that requires building a profile of a user. I don’t think it’s going to end well for…

I think some major differences between Meta and IAB is that IAB was sharing the data with other companies where Meta keeps your data to themselves. Additionally as a part of personalizing the non ad posts on ones feed the data is already being collected and processed. Showing a relevant ad isn't much different privacy wise than showing a relevant post. Tracking how you interact with a post isn't much different from tracking how you interact with an ad post.

Re: Meta wants EU users to apply for permission to opt out of data collection

#25

Post by ZacnyLos »

When the EU introduced the ability to opt out of being forced to save cookies on devices, malicious or lazy companies adopted hostile user unclicking forms.

The same is now true of Facebook. Capitalists will always be against the convenience of users.

Re: Meta wants EU users to apply for permission to opt out of data collection

#27

Post by rendall »

mtlmtlmtlmtl wrote: post #17
ranguna wrote: post #4

To opt out? Shouldn't it be opt in?

I think data collection on the scale of what Meta is doing should just be illegal altogether, or at the very least it should be mandated as opt-in with the opt-in process being filled with warnings and never being the easiest way to get rid of a banner. It should be hidden away under a menu and there should be no banner at all. The dark patterns used to trick people into opting in need to end. I religiously opt out o…

If I see a pop-up, especially from "OneTrust", I immediately close the tab and re-open the site in Private/Incognito mode. There are some sites I just reflexively open that way. "Ars Technica" is but one example.

Re: Meta wants EU users to apply for permission to opt out of data collection

#29

Post by zelphirkalt »

Aaand another case of big tech acting stupid, misinterpreting the law, just to continue acting like they do, violating the law, a liiittle bit longer, milking that cash cow of mining illegally obtained data as long as possible. No signs of remorse to be expected there. Hopefully this blatant violation goes into the next law suit against them and makes the outcome a bit worse for them.

Re: Meta wants EU users to apply for permission to opt out of data collection

#30

Post by londons_explore »

_pjx9 wrote: post #20
steveridout wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GDPR obliges them to delete your data upon request. But I'm not sure how well Facebook/Meta complies with this. This post from 4 years ago doesn't sound encouraging: https://ruben.verborgh.org/facebook/ Does anyone know if they've improved since then?

I'd deleted my Facebook account years before, but after that begrudgingly signed up to Facebook Messenger because my friends insisted on using it (which are separate accounts apparently). At some point, a couple of years ago, I decided enough was enough (probably when they forced me to accept some new anti-privacy EULA which otherwise blocked me from using Messenger Lite). There was no delete account option in the ap…

The EU has now made clear that this isn't compliant. A data removal request does not have to be via a form - it can be to any employee via any communication method, and does not have to use any special legal wording. [1]

You can show up at one of their offices and tell their janitor, and they should still comply.

That's why most companies now train every employee how to handle users requesting deletion (usually by forwarding the request to someone whose job it is to action them).

[1]: https://medium.com/@sandeepbhalothia/a-b27d3f83ee73#:~:text=...

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