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Facebook Ordered To Stop Combining WhatsApp and Instagram Data Without Consent in Germany; Company Says It Needs That Data To Fight Terrorism and Child Abuse (theverge.com)
Facebook has been ordered to curb its data collection practices in Germany after a landmark ruling on Thursday that the world's largest social network abused its market dominance to gather information about users without their consent. From a report: The order applies to data collected by Facebook-owned platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, but also third-party sources that Facebook uses to flesh out its advertising profiles, including those of non-users. The Bundeskartellamt, or Federal Cartel Office (FCO), has given Facebook one month to appeal the landmark decision, which comes after a three-year investigation. If the appeal fails, the tech company will have to ensure these data sources are not combined without consent within the next four months. Although the ruling only applies within Germany, the decision could influence regulators in other countries. Gizmodo adds: Facebook insists that combining all of that data is actually great. In fact, the company says, it's keeping everyone safe from stuff like terrorism and child abuse. From Facebook's statement this morning: "Facebook has always been about connecting you with people and information you're interested in. We tailor each person's Facebook experience so it's unique to you, and we use a variety of information to do this -- including the information you include on your profile, news stories you like or share and what other services share with us about your use of their websites and apps. Using information across our services also helps us protect people's safety and security, including, for example, identifying abusive behavior and disabling accounts tied to terrorism, child exploitation and election interference across both Facebook and Instagram."
When a company is doing something that will violate the law, in this case combining data, and is ordered to stop then invoke: "B-b-but TERRISZM!" Also don't forget to invoke child welfare ("FER TEH CHILLDRUN!!!") for extra effect.
by the Mark Zuckerberg himself is especially disgusting.
Facebuck actually cares about those?!?!
ROFLMFAO
"Facebook insists that combining all of that data is actually great".
Yeah, right. And Facebook insists that Facebook is great, while the reality is that it is a steaming pile of shit. Facebook is long out of control.
Did someone read Zuck's op-ed in several big newspapers, about two weeks ago? This guy is an arrogant twit and lies through his teeth -- or he is an idiot. Possibly both.
I'm praying I don't meet this guy in one of the city's dark corners, lest I end up in jail.
Especially in Germany they don't particularly like when someone who isn't actually a LEO pretends to be a LEO. Hey, maybe it's different for large corporations, right?
If they agree to report people for offensive speech and ideas too, they can probably cut a deal.
Wow, invoking two of the Four Horsemen Of The Infocalypse to justify eroding privacy:
This is a new low, even for Facebook.
Facebook insists that combining all of that data is actually great.
I'm sure it is... for Facebook. For end users? Probably not so much.
In fact, the company says, it's keeping everyone safe from stuff like terrorism and child abuse.
That is such a non-sequitur I think my brain just broke.
Facebook has always been about connecting you with people and information you're interested in.
Noooo... Facebook has always been about monetizing you and the people and information you are interested in.
Since when is it Facebook's job to protect us all from terrorism and child-sex-trafficking? WTF. I'd prefer to leave those activities to law-enforcement.
I think someone at Facebook realized the "Think of the children" and "Because terrorism" arguments always work in politics and had the idea to combine them. Not realizing that when you combine two powerful tools to manipulate stupid people it makes a mixture that just smells of bullshit.
So it's resolved then. All people with nipples should be immediately removed from Facebook.
... government. They don't give one flying rat's ass about anything but money.
Facebook deflects worse than Trump.
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
A service that allows free encrypted phone and video calls and uses the contact list and phone numbers in order to make the calls? With no revenue generation? The only reason Facebook bought the company in the first place was because the users allowed access to their contacts. Other than that, the company had negative value.
If you want to stop terrorism and child abuse, just mandate all children be named Mohamed until they hit 18 years old.
Anyone abusing them will get an instant fatwa on their heads. Terrorists will be too busy going after the child abusers to terrorize anyone else.
When did Fakebook receive a commission to fight terrorism and child abuse? If they have been doing such, how many convictions have they contributed to?
Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
When did Facebook become part of law enforcement? Otherwise, I'm really confused by Facebook's argument... Unless they've identified terrorists and child abusers as good demographics for advertisers...
Hiding behind terrorists and pedophiles.