EU Watchdog Urged to Reject Meta ‘Pay for Privacy’ Scheme

EU Watchdog Urged to Reject Meta ‘Pay for Privacy’ Scheme

February 16, 2024 at 10:03AM

Civil rights groups urge the EU watchdog to rule against Meta’s paid data tracking opt-out, calling it a violation of EU law. Meta contends subscriptions comply with EU rules after legal battles but activists argue it violates consumer rights. European Data Protection Board will soon decide on this issue, as civil rights organizations continue to push for alignment with data protection rights.

Based on the meeting notes, the key points to take away are:

– Civil rights groups are opposing Meta’s scheme that allows European users to pay to opt out of data tracking, considering it a violation of EU law.
– Meta argues that the subscriptions are a way to comply with the EU’s data privacy laws.
– Privacy activists argue that this scheme restricts the genuine or free choice of users to accept or reject the processing of their personal data.
– 28 civil rights organizations, including NOYB and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, have called on the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) to issue a decision aligning with the Fundamental Right to Data Protection.
– European consumer groups have also lodged complaints regarding the scheme.
– The EDPB is due to adopt a “general” opinion on the concept of “consent or pay in the context of large online platforms” within eight weeks starting from January 25.

These takeaways summarize the main issues and stakeholders involved in the dispute over Meta’s scheme.

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