Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp may need to overhaul how they collect the data of users in Europe after the top EU court ruled against parent company Meta on Tuesday.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled in favour of Germany’s anti-cartel watchdog, which had argued that it could take data privacy issues into account when considering antitrust cases.
One of the key issues in the case was Meta’s ability to link data across platforms, which allows it to closely target adverts at users, the principal way it makes money.
The German watchdog barred Meta from mixing personal data gathered on Facebook with details harvested from Instagram or WhatsApp, arguing that it amounted to an abuse of its dominant market position in Germany.
The European court said cartel offices were within their rights to carry out investigations under the EU’s huge data protection regulation (GDPR).
“The judgment will have far-reaching effects on the business models used in the data economy,” tweeted Andreas Mundt, head of the anti-cartel watchdog.
Echoing many previous rulings against Meta and other big tech firms, the court ruled that the US company must ask for permission to collect large amounts of personal data, striking down various workarounds that Meta had offered.
Meta is likely to need to find a different method of gathering data in Europe as a result.
“We are evaluating the Court’s decision and will have more to say in due course,” a Meta company spokesperson told AFP.
Privacy campaign group noyb welcomed the ruling, saying it clarifies once again that Meta cannot sidestep the GDPR.
“This will mean that Meta has to seek proper consent and cannot use its dominant position to force people to agree to things they don’t want,” said the group’s Max Schrems.
The ruling could also imperil other big platforms like Google, which has a similar ad-tech business model.
Follow us on:
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has condemned the commercialisation of GMO seeds, warning of threats to Nigeria’s food…
Oleksandr Usyk has secured victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh, successfully defending his heavyweight championship…
Albania plans a one-year TikTok ban from January after a schoolboy’s death sparks concerns over…
A suspect accused of killing five people by driving into a crowded Christmas market in…
A US Navy F/A-18 Hornet was mistakenly shot down over the Red Sea by the…
NNPC has reduced petrol ex-depot price to N899 per litre, sparking competition with Dangote Refinery…
View Comments
📞O7O 4540 6674 }CAR FEATURES AND PRICES BELOW
GOLF , 2, 3,4 ,.400,000 to 600,000
Toyota Camry Big==#550, 000Daddy==N750,000.
Toyota Camry Tiny-Light==
N500,000.
Toyota Avenza ==N1.3. To N3. million
Toyota Hilux==950,000 to N 2.5 million
Toyota Avensis==N650,000.
Toyota Camry Muscle==N 900,000. & Spider==N950,000.
Avalon==N670,000.
Rav4 SUV==800,000 to N1.million
Toyota Sienna==N800,000.
Toyota 4Runner==850,000 to N1.3million
Tundra==950,000 to N3.8. Million
picnic==N650,000.
Toyota Highlander==850,000 to
N3. 5m
Corolla==N500,000.
Prado==N1.m To 1.7 million
Toyota LandCruisser==N850,000. to 2mill
Toyota Yaris==N650.000.
Toyota Matrix==N700,000.
Toyota Haice Bus==N 950,000 to 1.2mill
MDX ==N1.5
TIPPER head 6m
M
ZDX==N1.7
DYNA TRUCK 900,000
Honda Pilot==N950,000
Crosstour 850,000
CR-V 500,000
Benz ML350 900,000
Accord 500,000
EOD 550,000
Rx300==N800,000. To N1.1 Million
GX470===2M
Benz ===900,000 to 3million
Rx330==N950,000 To N1.8 Million
EX330 ===950,000 to 2mill
Tacoma ===950,000 to 3mill
Benz C-Class ===950,000 to 3m
GLK ==1.5m to 3mill
IS250==900,000 to 2milli
Rx350==N900,000 To N2.3 Million
ES330 #950,000
TUNDRA ===950,000 to 2m
Gx470 ===1,300,000. to 3m
IS350 950,000 to 3mill
ES350 ==950,000 to 2mill
Rx470==N2.m AII070_4540_6674