Apparently 's their way or the highway, as far as Facebook is concerned. The social media platform, that's been in the eye of the storm for all the wrong reasons lately, has confirmed that Facebook would continue requiring people to accept targeted ads as a condition of using its service even under the new EU law. Facebook would begin seeking Europeans' permission this week for ways it uses their data, but opting out of targeted ads altogether would not be possible, according to a new Reuters report.
"Facebook is an advertising-supported service," Facebook Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Rob Sherman was quoted by Reuters. "All ads on Facebook are targeted to some extent, and that's true for offline advertising, as well," Sherman added. Facebook would however allow users to limit the kinds of data that advertisers use to target their pitches through permission screens. Users will have two options: "accept and continue" or "manage data setting," but "decline" won't be an option. "People can choose to not be on Facebook if they want."
The European law, called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is being touted as the biggest overhaul of online privacy since internet came into existence, giving Europeans the right to know what data platforms like Facebook have stored on them and the right to have it deleted as and when they feel necessary. The likes of Facebook will have to be more specific in letting European users know how they plan to use their data, and also they will need to get explicit consent from users about the same. Failure to comply with the GDPR law will carry a maximum penalty of up to 4 per cent of their annual revenue.
The European law, called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is being touted as the biggest overhaul of online privacy since internet came into existence, giving Europeans the right to know what data platforms like Facebook have stored on them and the right to have it deleted as and when they feel necessary. The likes of Facebook will have to be more specific in letting European users know how they plan to use their data, and also they will need to get explicit consent from users about the same. Failure to comply with the GDPR law will carry a maximum penalty of up to 4 per cent of their annual revenue.
Globally, especially after the infamous Cambridge Analytica data scandal, there's been popular demand that Facebook put forth the same set of privacy standards across the board as it's going to be faced with and will have to oblige in the EU. In fact, the demand has been for all tech companies that deal with user data, to comply with the same standards. The likes of Apple are also on-board. But, for companies like Facebook, the new law could be a double edged sword. Because it wouldn't be able to use personal information as freely, it would invariably mean reduction in the value of ads. And that would mean sinking profits. For a company like Facebook, that relies on ad-based profits, the EU law would mean hampering business. And failure to comply would mean added expense through legal channels.
Facebook, on its part, has assured users around the world will have the same privacy standards as the EU, in the days to come, but it's been very careful with its words while putting forth its stance.
"While the substance of our data policy is the same globally, people in the EU will see specific details relevant only to people who live there, like how to contact our Data Protection Officer under GDPR. We want to be clear that there is nothing different about the controls and protections we offer around the world," Facebook said in a blog post on Tuesday.
Facebook has been in the eye of the storm over privacy concerns after an upstart voter-profiling company, called Cambridge Analytica, was allegedly found to have harvested more than 50 million user profiles on Facebook with the help of academic researcher Aleksandr Kogan. Without any consent from users. It was a data breach like no other. And new revelations keep coming each day. The latest one being, the number of Facebook users affected could be more than 87 million, and also Cambridge Analytica may have used two other apps -- in addition to Kogan's -- to harvest user data.
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