Facebook told by Belgian court to stop tracking non-users

[GennGreymane]

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-3...ource=facebook

A court has given Facebook 48 hours to stop tracking people in Belgium who are not members of its social network.
Facebook says it will appeal against the decision and that the order relates to a cookie it has used for five years.
The cookie is installed when an internet user visits a Facebook page even if they are not members.

However, the Belgian court said that the company was obliged to obtain consent to collect the information being gathered.
"The judge ruled that this is personal data, which Facebook can only use if the internet user expressly gives their consent, as Belgian privacy law dictates," it said in a statement.

If Facebook fails to comply, it could face a fine of up to 250,000 euros (£180,000) per day.
The fine would go to the Belgian Privacy Commission, which brought the case, the court added.
Cookies are simple files that track whether a user has visited a website before and notify the site itself.

They can track a number of user activities, such as how long they stayed, what they clicked and any preferences selected.
"We've used the Datr cookie for more than five years to keep Facebook secure for 1.5 billion people around the world," said a Facebook spokesperson.
"We will appeal this decision and are working to minimise any disruption to people's access to Facebook in Belgium."

[TrumpIsPresident]

Facebook should tell Belgium to shove it.

Websites create cookies.

Get over it people.

[Deleted]

Facebook should tell Belgium to shove it.

Websites create cookies.

Get over it people.

Facebook should get fucked. There's a reason why I use ghostery and adblock etc, and it's because of companies like facebook. <.<

[Deleted]

it's always funny to see one nation go against an international company

good luck

[Blueobelisk]

I hope the result is that Facebook doesn't allow people to connect to their site from Belgium anymore. That would be good.

[Collegeguy]

Blocking cookies is so much more fun though.

[Bakis]

I hope the result is that Facebook doesn't allow people to connect to their site from Belgium anymore. That would be good.

What a loss for humankind
Seriously though, one can always repeat the 'FB should tell them to fuck off' mantra but generally speaking those companies generally comply, dont want to miss out on markets.

[oxymoronic]

more of europeans trying to shake down US businesses for money. nothing new, they are so broke over there and desperate.

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Facebook should get fucked. There's a reason why I use ghostery and adblock etc, and it's because of companies like facebook. <.<

I use it for sites that will attempt to do me harm.

[JohnBrown1917]

Facebook should tell Belgium to shove it.

Websites create cookies.

Get over it people.

Too bad that is has to deal with the laws in belgium if it wants to operate(legally) in Belgium.

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more of europeans trying to shake down US businesses for money. nothing new, they are so broke over there and desperate.

Must be fun in your little world.

[Kujako]

Too bad that is has to deal with the laws in belgium if it wants to operate(legally) in Belgium.

Should only apply to web sites hosted in Belgium.

[unbound]

more of europeans trying to shake down US businesses for money. nothing new, they are so broke over there and desperate.

What?

Seriously...what?

/facepalm

[Kalis]

more of europeans trying to shake down US businesses for money. nothing new, they are so broke over there and desperate.

So when Belgian businesses are told to follow US law to operate within the US, it's because the US is trying to shakedown Belgian businesses as the US is so broke and desperate?

Or is there some other reason they do it, like perhaps in order to do business in a country you have to follow the same legislation as other businesses there? Nah that would be craz...oh no, that's actually why.