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Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

reuters.com

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Re: Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

#71

Post by kalleboo »

> But the fact that the button to reject the new Terms of Service isn’t even a button, it’s a tiny “see your options” hyperlink, shows how badly Facebook wants to avoid you closing your account.

> When Facebook’s product designer for the GDPR flow was asked if she thought this hyperlink was the best way to present the alternative to the big “I Accept” button, she disingenuously said yes, eliciting scoffs from the room of reporters.

I wonder if I could live with myself if this was my job. Although I guess if I got paid really well I would end up justifying it to myself somehow.

Re: Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

#72

Post by martin_bech »

hartator wrote: post #66
IBM wrote: post #13

Zuckerberg went to Congress and told them Facebook would support GDPR, as if the only thing GDPR is are just some controls you'd do at the user interface level (and as we learned today, that they're attempting to get around with dark pattern designs [1]). GDPR is much more comprehensive than that, but most importantly it gives data privacy regulators real teeth to enforce with (fines up to 4% of global revenue). The…

You are assuming GDPR is good. I don’t think so. I don’t want GDRP in the US. The worst abuser of privacy - right now - is the government. I don’t think putting redtapes on startups will solve anything.

That is a somewhat valid concern, but here in Denmark (EU) GDPR har actually been helpful to highlight some of the data collection by the state, and some of it, has been set on standby or at least been postponed because of concerns (student mental health/well beeing, was so to be registered, and stored on a SSN level “for research”)

Re: Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

#73

Post by dang »

lovich wrote: post #51
donohoe wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not anti-American (its not all about you ), its pro-privacy.

Next this guy is going to say countries building armies to protect themselves is anti american because it doesn't let US companies take all their natural resources.

Please don't make it personal. There's no need.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

#75

Post by JumpCrisscross »

meddlepal wrote: post #59
keithnz wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think the servers matter, it's not really about the servers, it's about the business side of it, they operate a low tax business within the EU. I don't think they can move out of the EU without all of a sudden not having to pay a lot more for doing business with EU companies. So they still want to operate as a company within the EU to get the tax advantages, but then also are subject to the laws.

If FB moves all their operations out if the EU, how does the EU tax a company? Presumably EU companies can do business with non-EU companies without the other company having an EU presence? Genuinely curious. Not sure how this works as I'm not a bizguy.

> If FB moves all their operations out if the EU, how does the EU tax a company?

If Facebook moved its servers and personnel out of the EU to avoid complying with EU law, I'd fully expect--and support--the EU to (a) punitively taxing EU businesses buying Facebook ads, (b) banning EU businesses from buying said ads, (c) extraditing Facebook executives to the EU and then (d) blocking Facebook in the EU. No jurisdiction reacts kindly to brazen, willful criminality.

Re: Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

#76

Post by simion314 »

lwansbrough wrote: post #34
zenhack wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They'd also have to stop being based in Europe (they're officially headquartered in Ireland, because tax evasion), and (here's the kicker): stop doing business with all of Europe. Even if they had to say screw it and not do any targeting of their adds at all, it really wouldn't make any business sense for them to take their ball and go home.

I think the EU government would be in more trouble than either Google or Facebook if both companies decided to stop servicing all EU citizens. I think the only reason big companies aren't threatening that is because GDPR gives them a massive advantage over small businesses and basically permanently solidifies their positions on top of the tech world in those countries.

What do you think can happen if FB stops serving EU? AQ revolution? I think a few or even more FB clones would appear, ones from other big players that would need to respect the law, maybe they can import your contacts from FB too.

About google, I think they make too much money to leave EU, maybe they will close some products that are not profitable in EU but that is all.

Re: Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

#77

Post by brylie »

sqdbps wrote: post #33
donohoe wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to disagree. As someone who is grappling with the impact of these laws on US business I'm acutely aware of the non-existent privacy we all have and how our information is abused and resold. The GDPR, while a pain, are a response to decades of an industry that should have known better.

I think you're understating how much of this law is about EU resentment of US tech companies' mindshare and marketshare.

On what do you base that statement?

Just because many companies and startups are U.S.-based, does not mean that universal privacy laws/rights are targeting U.S. companies.

From my understanding, the GDPR applies equally to all companies, regardless of where they are founded.

Re: Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

#78

Post by NegativeLatency »

kalleboo wrote: post #71

> But the fact that the button to reject the new Terms of Service isn’t even a button, it’s a tiny “see your options” hyperlink, shows how badly Facebook wants to avoid you closing your account. > When Facebook’s product designer for the GDPR flow was asked if she thought this hyperlink was the best way to present the alternative to the big “I Accept” button, she disingenuously said yes, eliciting scoffs from the roo…

It is the best way for the true customers of Facebook (the paying advertisers)

Re: Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

#79

Post by willvarfar »

hartator wrote: post #66
IBM wrote: post #13

Zuckerberg went to Congress and told them Facebook would support GDPR, as if the only thing GDPR is are just some controls you'd do at the user interface level (and as we learned today, that they're attempting to get around with dark pattern designs [1]). GDPR is much more comprehensive than that, but most importantly it gives data privacy regulators real teeth to enforce with (fines up to 4% of global revenue). The…

You are assuming GDPR is good. I don’t think so. I don’t want GDRP in the US. The worst abuser of privacy - right now - is the government. I don’t think putting redtapes on startups will solve anything.

The European governments are bound by GDPR in the same way companies are. Surely bringing a GDPR-like law to the US would be a good thing?

Re: Facebook to change user terms, limiting effect of EU privacy law

#80

Post by CiaranMcNulty »

mieseratte wrote: post #3

> Facebook members outside the United States and Canada, whether they know it or not, are currently governed by terms of service agreed with the company’s international headquarters in Ireland. So would the GDPR have any protection for an Facebook-expatriate in the US who does not agree to the new terms, or would they still have no standing in European court as they are not citizen / residents?

The GDPR applies to people located within the EU, irrespective of citizenship.

So it would protect a US national in Berlin, but not a German national in New York.

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