Belgian privacy watchdog sue Facebook

The Belgian privacy watchdog has chosen to sue Facebook for how they handle their users data, claiming that Facebook’s policies break European privacy laws.

According to the investigation, Facebook can collect information on Internet users, even if they don’t have a Facebook account or not even logged in to Facebook.

This can be achieved through the extensive use of plugins used by websites across the Internet. The Facebook Like and Share buttons are the most prolific social media plugins on the Internet, and they allow Facebook to collect certain information on anyone who visits a website with such a plugin installed, even if they do not interact with that plugin.

Facebook claimed that they do not track people who do not have Facebook accounts, and in instances where cookies were installed on non-members computers were the result of a bug that they would address.

Sponsored Content. Continued below...

The Belgian Watchdog has claimed that Facebook has “flouted” European privacy laws – which are typically stricter than privacy laws in the US – for some time now and it needs to be resolved. The case it to be heard in court on Thursday, only a day before Facebook are due to meet with privacy regulators.

Facebook have called the case a “theatrical action”. The court case cannot result in any punitive action being taken against Facebook, but regulators hope this will lead to a court forcing Facebook to comply with European laws.