Meta has agreed to provide its users with greater transparency and freedom over data collection practices involving its platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The move follows an order from Germany’s Federal Cartel Office in February 2019 which banned Meta from merging data from different sources without user consent. Meta took legal action against the ruling, but has now agreed to introduce a “new account overview” to provide users with greater clarity. Meta had been accused of changing the design of its platforms to favour account linking but has denied wrongdoing.
Meta will introduce a new account overview to provide users with greater transparency over data collection practices involving its platforms. The move follows an order from Germany’s Federal Cartel Office, which had banned Meta from merging user data without obtaining their consent. Meta had been accused of changing the design of its platforms to favour account linking but denied any wrongdoing. The new overview will make it clear to users that by connecting their accounts they can benefit from more functions, but they will also be made aware that Meta uses the linked data for tracking, profiling and personalised advertising.
The changes to Meta’s platforms come following a legal battle that began in February 2019 when the Federal Cartel Office ordered Meta to stop merging data from different sources without user consent. Meta had appealed the ruling, which restricted its business model, but has now agreed to introduce a new account overview to provide users with greater transparency and freedom over data collection and use. Meta said it had made adjustments during the voting process “after intensive discussions” in order to achieve “an overall much more transparent and understandable user interface”.
The German competition authorities have praised Meta’s new account overview, although they still see potential for optimisation. However, the authorities consider that the project essentially fulfils the requirements for voluntary and informed consent laid down in the General Data Protection Regulation. The overview makes it clear that by opting in to merging accounts, users can benefit from additional functionalities such as crossposting, but they will also be made aware that Meta uses the linked data for tracking, profiling and personalised advertising.
Meta had initially challenged the Federal Cartel Office’s ruling in court, arguing that it had not breached data protection laws. The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court had granted Meta a stay in August 2019, but this was overturned by the Federal Court of Justice in June 2020 at the request of the competition authorities. The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court then referred questions on the application of the GDPR to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which is expected to announce its decision on July 4, 2022.
The German competition authorities have praised Meta’s agreement to introduce a new account overview to provide users with greater transparency and freedom over data collection practices involving its platforms. Meta had been ordered to stop merging user data without obtaining their consent in February 2019, but had challenged the ruling in court. The new overview makes it clear to users that by connecting their accounts they can benefit from more functions, but they will also be made aware that Meta uses the linked data for tracking, profiling and personalised advertising. The competition authorities consider that the changes fulfil the requirements for voluntary and informed consent laid down in the General Data Protection Regulation. The European Court of Justice is expected to announce its decision on the matter in July 2022.
