German Court Rules Meta Tracking Tech Violates EU Privacy Laws

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Record: A German court has ruled that Meta must pay $5,900 to a German Facebook user who sued the platform for embedding tracking technology in third-party websites -- a ruling that could open the door to large fines down the road over data privacy violations relating to pixels and similar tools. The Regional Court of Leipzig in Germany ruled Friday that Meta tracking pixels and software development kits embedded in countless websites and apps collect users' data without their consent and violate the continent's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The ruling in favor of the plaintiff sets a precedent which the court acknowledged will allow countless other users to sue without "explicitly demonstrating individual damages," according to a Leipzig Regional Court press release. "Every user is individually identifiable to Meta at all times as soon as they visit the third-party websites or use an app, even if they have not logged in via the Instagram and Facebook account," the press release said. "This may very well be one of the most substantial rulings coming out of Europe this year," said Ronni K. Gothard Christiansen, the CEO of AesirX, a consultancy which helps businesses comply with data privacy laws. "$5,900 in damages for one visitor adds up quickly if you have tens of thousands of visitors, or even millions."

Re:

[whitroth]

So, tell us, are you one of the scum who buy everything they sell on individuals, and spam/hack/blackmail, or are you just too stupid to own a computer?

Meta probably wonâ(TM)t pay a cent

[RealMelancon]

These Americans think they are above the laws. Just like the Chinese. You are the product. Remember!

Re:

[Retired Chemist]

They will if they want to do business in Europe. Of course, given the privacy laws maybe they don't.

Re:

[Ol Olsoc]

They will if they want to do business in Europe. Of course, given the privacy laws maybe they don't.

Facebook is bad enough, but no one beats Google for harvesting and tracking. Install a script blocker, It might be a little distressing though as you plow through the results.

Re:

[fph il quozientatore]

As a European: Bye Felicia.

Re:Meta probably won't pay a cent

[canavan]

They will pay. If they don't, the plaintiff can submit a simple form, and the bailiff will show up at one of Facebook's offices and seize assets to be auctioned off to cover both the full amount of the ruling, the plaintiff's lawyers' fees as well as fees for his own work. Messing with any of the seized assets is of course a felony. If they don't let him in or attempt to prevent him from doing his work, he'll be back with police, or simply seize their entire bank accounts until this is settled.

you are the product

[Dr. Tom]

there is a word for when you buy and sell people
's information

Good, more to go

[JamesTRexx]

Now go after Googlenet and CloudFarce for obstructing access to the internet underneath their layers and spyware.

US Companies Are Illegal

[AncalagonTotof]

According to the GDPR / RGPD, and as explained by Benjamin Bayart [bee-tube.fr], the fact that US laws give the power to many US agencies to access data wherever they are stored on the planet makes US companies illegal. Period.

Re:

[AncalagonTotof]

So what ? Europe has more to gain than to lose.