Latest news with #Datenschutz
LBCI
05-07-2025
- Business
- LBCI
User wins case against Germany's ‘Meta' over data privacy
A German court on Friday ordered the U.S. company Meta to pay 5,000 euros to a Facebook user for violating European data protection rules, in a decision that paves the way for more complaints. A statement issued by the Leipzig Regional Court in eastern Germany stated that the 'high' fine is due to Meta's 'serious violation of European data protection law' through its 'commercial' tools designed to identify Facebook users, thus realizing billions of dollars through targeted advertising. According to the court, this practice violates European law because it leads to near-permanent surveillance of users' private lives, even when they are not using their Facebook or Instagram accounts, which are owned by Meta. Unlike other jurisdictions in Germany, the Leipzig court did not apply national privacy law, but only European law. Meta may appeal this decision to the Dresden Regional Court in eastern Germany. The Leipzig judge noted that the US giant's European platform, based in Ireland, systematically transfers private data to countries around the world, including the U.S., where it is exploited on a 'scale unknown to the user.' The court said it 'recognizes' that the decision 'may encourage many Facebook users to file lawsuits without proving specific individual harm.' It added that the European rules cited in the ruling 'are specifically aimed at ensuring effective data protection, through private actions before civil courts, beyond purely administrative proceedings.' Meta also announced that it would challenge a record €200 million fine imposed by the European Commission in April for non-compliance with personal data rules, calling the penalty 'incorrect and unlawful.' In Europe, Meta has to seek users' consent to integrate data from its services for advertising purposes. Therefore, it offers a paid subscription without ads or a free subscription that allows data sharing. Brussels has ruled that this 'pay or consent' option has an injunctive character for users. In Germany, Meta, like other tech giants (Alphabet/Google, Amazon and Apple), is considered dominant in its market by the German Competition Office, making it subject to possible additional penalties.
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
German Court Says Meta Can Use User Data to Train AI
A German court on Friday dismissed an injunction request brought by consumer protection groups to prevent US tech giant Meta from using user data from Facebook and Instagram to train artificial intelligence systems. The higher regional court in Cologne concluded Meta, which owns both social media platforms, had not violated European Union law. "Meta is pursuing a legitimate end by using the data to train artificial intelligence systems," the court said in a statement. Feeding user data into AI training systems was allowed "even without the consent of those affected", it added. Meta has announced plans to begin training AI models with data from Facebook and Instagram from Tuesday, said AFP. The court said the balance of interests between the parties was in favor of allowing Meta to process user data to develop AI. The training of AI systems "cannot be achieved by other equally effective, less intrusive means", the court said. Among the reasons cited by judges was Facebook's intention to only use publicly available data that could also be found via search. Meta had also "taken effective measures to significantly mitigate the impact" on users, the court said, including communicating the plans via its mobile apps. The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Center, which brought the case, said it still found the use of user data "highly problematic". "There are still considerable doubts about the legality," the organization's chief, Wolfgang Schuldzinski, said in a statement. The Vienna-based privacy campaign group Noyb said last week it had sent a cease-and-desist letter to Meta over the plans to use user data for AI training. The letter was the first step ahead of a possible injunction request or class-action lawsuit against Meta, the group said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
German Rights Group Fails in Bid Stop Meta's Data Use for AI
A German consumer rights group on Friday failed to win a court injunction to stop Meta Platforms from training its artificial intelligence models with Facebook and Instagram user posts. The court in the western city of Cologne said it did not grant an injunction sought by state-funded consumer rights group Verbraucherzentrale NRW, Reuters reported. Meta said last month it would train its AI models in the European Union with public posts of adults across its platforms, as well as with interactions that users have with its artificial intelligence. Meta said at the time that its platforms' users in the EU would be notified of the project and that they would be given the opportunity to opt out.
CNA
23-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
German rights group fails in bid stop Meta's data use for AI
A German consumer rights group on Friday failed to win a court injunction to stop Meta Platforms from training its artificial intelligence models with Facebook and Instagram user posts. The court in the western city of Cologne said it did not grant an injunction sought by state-funded consumer rights group Verbraucherzentrale NRW. Meta said last month it would train its AI models in the European Union with public posts of adults across its platforms, as well as with interactions that users have with its artificial intelligence. Meta said at the time that its platforms' users in the EU would be notified of the project and that they would be given the opportunity to opt out.
