French Authorities Order Facebook To Stop Tracking Non-Users
A French regulatory authority has directed Facebook to stop tracking non-users on Monday. The social media giant has been given three months to fall in line.
According to Reuters, French data protection authority CNIL has objected to Facebook plant cookies on browsers of non-users for targeting advertising, without user knowledge.
"FACEBOOK collects, without prior information, data concerning the browsing activity of Internet users who do not have a FACEBOOK account," the regulator said. "Indeed, the company does not inform Internet users that it sets a cookie on their terminal when they visit a FACEBOOK public page (e.g. page of a public event or of a friend). This cookie transmits to FACEBOOK information relating to third-party websites offering FACEBOOK plug-ins (e.g. Like button) that are visited by Internet users."
Other contentions raised by the regulator include collection of sexual orientation data and religious views of users without explicit consent. The organization noted that users are not informed about processing of their personal data when they sign up.
CNIL also raised objections to Facebook transferring personal data to the US from Europe while citing the Safe Harbor Pact despite EU Court of Justice ruling striking down the pact.
Facebook has been given three months to comply with European laws. CNIL said that sanctions can be considered if the company does not comply.
A spokesperson told Forbes that Facebook is committed to protecting the privacy of its users, while maintaining that its activities are in compliance with European laws.
