Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

twitter.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

91–100 of 385 posts

Re: Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

#91

Post by cdancette »

tlrobinson wrote: post #73
mrweasel wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not allow to operate that way in most other businesses anyway. You can't sell leaded paint, even if clearly marked. You can't sell unsafe cars, even if you tell people that even low speed impacts will kill them. There's a ton of stuff you can't do, even with clear consent, because otherwise people who lack the means to understand the compromises or afford the safer choices will suffer.

Those are safety/environmental issues. Showing you ads based on your preferences is not.

I think we're underestimating the global health issue due to online advertisement (alcohol, smoking, or just bad eating habits). And I'm not speaking of attention disorder of so-called 'multitask kids' caused by social media that have business models based on ads, and do everything to grab your attention

Re: Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

#92

Post by adventured »

zerostar07 wrote: post #38
mtgx wrote: post #3

I'm pretty sure that's illegal under GDPR.

What do you consider legal under GDPR? A lot of people think it's some kind of "revenge gun", but for what exactly? I wonder what people expected that would happen.

Here's the program so far: EU targets Google, US then targets German automakers with emissions-gate, EU targets US tech companies with global revenue fines and data restrictions (Google + Facebook = $180b in revenue in the near future, an EU targeted pot of gold meant to be an offset for Ireland's tax policies).

Next up: the US targets Germany's auto industry - a backbone to their economy - with tariffs or other import restrictions, seeking to damage BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen in any and all ways possible. Easy cover: Germany having the world's largest current account surplus, at 8% of GDP. Recourse after that: more restrictions, regulations, targeting of US tech giants in the EU, and tariffs on various US products.

France says: Germany and its trade policies are a problem, seeks to reduce German dominance while trying to remain more neutral with the US:

https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-says-german-...

It's going to be a very interesting year or two.

Re: Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

#93

Post by stevew20 »

chesimov wrote: post #52
zb123 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please take a moment and consider the implications of a nationalized company that tracks and records every thought of its users.

Do mean that a government is less trustworthy than an independendent corporation? That a corporation will better look after the interests of its citizens than a government?

As a US citizen, and a former service member, and I can confirm that most independent businesses and corporations are more trustworthy than the US government.

Re: Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

#94

Post by barrkel »

purple-again wrote: post #87
ClassAndBurn wrote: post #42

GDPR doesn't cover enough of the population using Facebook to warrant such a change to their business model where you can use the service without them using your data. They believe they are entrenched enough to just require this (and likely are for many EU residents).

I'm really curious to find out if the GDPR privacy stance (I'm American, not well traveled, and with no non american social circle) is like the 'no JavaScript' community. Vastly over represented in the tech community and not really representative of the population as a whole. In other words, are 99% of European citizens going to just click through what ever annoying prompts they have to in order to get to their faceb…

The click-through is itself likely violating the regulation. All it takes is for someone to complain; it's not enough for 99% of people to click through.

Re: Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

#95

Post by Rjevski »

shmerl wrote: post #72

Hopefully it will encourage some people to ditch FB.

I wish, but knowing the general public they’ll just see this as yet another screen to click through to get their daily dose of bullshit memes, game invitations from their “friends” and other bullshit.

Re: Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

#96

Post by barrkel »

tlrobinson wrote: post #73
mrweasel wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not allow to operate that way in most other businesses anyway. You can't sell leaded paint, even if clearly marked. You can't sell unsafe cars, even if you tell people that even low speed impacts will kill them. There's a ton of stuff you can't do, even with clear consent, because otherwise people who lack the means to understand the compromises or afford the safer choices will suffer.

Those are safety/environmental issues. Showing you ads based on your preferences is not.

And if those ads tip an election based on psychological pressure points chosen on the basis of your preferences? That's an even bigger risk than safety and environmental issues in my book.

Re: Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

#97

Post by wang_li »

dbbk wrote: post #20
ben509 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It may be that FB's lawyers come at it with a more American view whereby it's legal if it complies with the letter of the law. I suspect the Euro legal system tends to build a fence around the Torah, so to speak.

It doesn't seem to comply with the letter of the law though, based on the requirement of "freely given, non-conditional consent".

What does it even mean to be conditional? Is the EU saying that FB has to provide their service to Europeans? Does the EU also require that businesses sell their services and products at a loss? Doesn't FB have some right to deny usage of their service to those who choose not to abide by FB's policies? Whether it's disapproval of tracking or behavior violations, it seems like FB should be able to say they don't want to provide their service to particular individuals.

Re: Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

#98

Post by zerostar07 »

adventured wrote: post #92
zerostar07 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you consider legal under GDPR? A lot of people think it's some kind of "revenge gun", but for what exactly? I wonder what people expected that would happen.

Here's the program so far: EU targets Google, US then targets German automakers with emissions-gate, EU targets US tech companies with global revenue fines and data restrictions (Google + Facebook = $180b in revenue in the near future, an EU targeted pot of gold meant to be an offset for Ireland's tax policies). Next up: the US targets Germany's auto industry - a backbone to their economy - with tariffs or other impo…

That would be fun indeed. But i think it's just one of those internet outrages, which at some point turns around and bites back , and in a few months people will be outraged certain aspects of GDPR itself.

Re: Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking

#99

Post by [deleted] »

star-castle wrote: post #10
mtgx wrote: post #3

I'm pretty sure that's illegal under GDPR.

what? seriously? Do EU citizens have some kind of legal right to Facebook access, now? It's illegal for Facebook to not serve people they can't sell to advertisers? I'd love it if Facebook were nationalized (or destroyed), but none of the coverage of the GDPR made it sound like it was going in that direction. I thought it was just another stupid "click here to acknowledge our cookies" rule that was going to spam up t…

[deleted]
Post reply on HN