The highest court of the European Union has ruled that Facebook-owner Meta must limit the use of people’s data for personalized advertising. This decision came after privacy campaigner Max Schrems raised concerns that Facebook was using his personal data, such as his sexual orientation, to target ads at him without his consent.
The Court of Justice for the European Union stated that data related to sensitive information like sexual orientation, race, or health status should not be used for personalized advertising without clear restrictions and safeguards in place. Meta, however, claims that it does not use such data for ad personalization.
Dr. Maria Tzanou from the University of Sheffield highlighted the importance of data protection principles, emphasizing that they are relevant and important especially when big tech companies handle personal data. This ruling is expected to have significant implications for Meta and could potentially impact its data processing practices in other jurisdictions.
Mr. Schrems’ legal team confirmed that the Austrian Supreme Court, which referred the case to the EU’s top court, is bound by the recent judgment. They are awaiting the Supreme Court’s final decision in the coming weeks. Mr. Schrems has been challenging Meta’s data processing practices in court multiple times, seeking to protect the privacy rights of EU users.
Vocabulary List:
- Ruling /ˈruː.lɪŋ/ (noun): An official decision made by a court.
- Privacy /ˈpraɪ.və.si/ (noun): The state of being free from public attention or interference.
- Safeguards /ˈseɪf.ɡɑːrdz/ (noun): Measures taken to protect someone or something.
- Implications /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃənz/ (noun): Possible effects or consequences of an action or a decision.
- Concerns /kənˈsɜːrnz/ (noun): Worries or feelings of anxiety about something.
- Personalized /ˈpɜːr.sən.ə.laɪzd/ (adjective): Tailored to an individual’s preferences or characteristics.
