Home
The Belgian privacy commission (BPC) accused Facebook of acting like the NSA by spying on European users. The Belgian data protection body referred to Snowden’s revelations about surreptitious mass surveillance by the spy agency.
The agency launched a lawsuit against the social network after accusing it of violating Belgian and European privacy law. The BPC accused Facebook of a number of breaches, including the tracking of non-users and logged-out Facebook users for advertising purposes, and is currently threatening the company with fine of €250,000 per day if it doesn’t stop.
In respond, Facebook has repeatedly denied the claims, explaining that the data and conclusions of the Belgian agency are false. The company is going to demonstrate to the court how its technology protects people from spam, malware, and other attacks. Facebook also insists that its practices are consistent with European law and with the rules of the most popular Belgian online services.
The social network also explained that its European operations and practices are governed by the Irish data protection agency, because its EU headquarters are located in Dublin. In the meantime, the case is being watched by the rest of the countries in the region, where data protection regulators also started to question Facebook’s privacy practices.
Facebook announced that the company has repeatedly offered to help resolve the Belgian agency’s concerns, but the BPC instead took the tech giant to court and seems to be trying to stop Facebook from using security technology because they misunderstand it.
The Belgian commission believes that Facebook is treating users’ private lives “without respect”, while Facebook offers to discuss these issues directly with Belgian Data Protection Authority rather than going through unnecessary litigation.
The agency launched a lawsuit against the social network after accusing it of violating Belgian and European privacy law. The BPC accused Facebook of a number of breaches, including the tracking of non-users and logged-out Facebook users for advertising purposes, and is currently threatening the company with fine of €250,000 per day if it doesn’t stop.
In respond, Facebook has repeatedly denied the claims, explaining that the data and conclusions of the Belgian agency are false. The company is going to demonstrate to the court how its technology protects people from spam, malware, and other attacks. Facebook also insists that its practices are consistent with European law and with the rules of the most popular Belgian online services.
The social network also explained that its European operations and practices are governed by the Irish data protection agency, because its EU headquarters are located in Dublin. In the meantime, the case is being watched by the rest of the countries in the region, where data protection regulators also started to question Facebook’s privacy practices.
Facebook announced that the company has repeatedly offered to help resolve the Belgian agency’s concerns, but the BPC instead took the tech giant to court and seems to be trying to stop Facebook from using security technology because they misunderstand it.
The Belgian commission believes that Facebook is treating users’ private lives “without respect”, while Facebook offers to discuss these issues directly with Belgian Data Protection Authority rather than going through unnecessary litigation.