European Union verdict restricts Meta’s utilization of individual data for advertisements

According to the report from the BBC, the European Court of Justice has ruled that Meta, the owner of Facebook, should decrease the volume of personal data utilized for tailored advertisements. This decision by the highest court of the EU implies that only a fraction of Meta’s data collection can be employed for ads.

The ruling is rooted in a grievance filed by privacy advocate Max Schrems. The complaint was based on the allegation that Facebook utilized data related to his sexual orientation for targeted advertisements, even though Schrems had not personally disclosed any information regarding his sexual orientation on the platform.

Meta has stated that it refrains from utilizing what is referred to as specially categorized data such as information related to sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, health status, or religion for tailor-made advertisements. This type of data is considered sensitive, and the European Union’s data protection laws impose stringent regulations on its processing. The company has emphasized its commitment to privacy and has noted that it will provide additional comments once it has thoroughly reviewed the court’s decision.

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AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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