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Tag: EU

  • Deutsche Telekom Bidding on EU Vaccination Passport

    Deutsche Telekom Bidding on EU Vaccination Passport

    T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom has submitted a bid to create a digital vaccination passport for the EU.

    One of the biggest challenges countries face is managing travel during the pandemic. International travel helped the coronavirus spread at a record pace in the early days of the pandemic, and continues to be a major threat to containment efforts.

    Some countries have made vaccination a requirement to cross their borders, but there is currently no good way to keep track of who has been vaccinated. The issue is especially a concern for the EU, where individuals are normally able to cross member state borders at will.

    Deutsche Telekom is hoping to help address the problem, submitting a bid to the German government to create a digital vaccination passport. A vaccination passport would serve as proof the holder was vaccinated, and therefore relatively safe to travel.

    If the EU’s efforts are successful, it’s a safe bet other countries will follow suit, implementing their own methods for keeping track of those vaccinated.

  • Microsoft Bringing Australian-Style Paid News to the EU

    Microsoft Bringing Australian-Style Paid News to the EU

    Microsoft is working to help EU publishers get paid for their news, similar to an Australian law that would enforce the same thing.

    The Australian government began a showdown with Google and Facebook with proposed legislation that would force tech companies to pay for the news they quote and link to. Google has traditionally been opposed to such measures, claiming news publishers benefit far more than it does from its use of their news. Similarly, Facebook has also bitterly opposed the new legislation. While Google ultimately began working out paid deals, Facebook escalated the showdown by blocking Australians from posting or linking to news.

    In the meantime, Microsoft has set itself apart by being willing to cooperate with Australia from the outset. The company even worked with the government to assure legislators it could pick up any additional search volume, should Google be unwilling to play ball.

    The Redmond company is now taking things a step further, working with EU publishers to ensure tech companies pay for the news they use, according to U.S. News & World Report.

    Microsoft is working with lobbying groups, such as the European Publishers Council and News Media Europe, in addition to groups representing magazine and newspaper publishers. While the EU has been working on ways to help publishers better negotiate with tech companies, it’s hardly a level playing field, with the tech companies holding the upper hand.

    Microsoft joining forces with publishers provides a considerable boost to their negotiating position, while also setting Microsoft up to benefit should Google or Facebook be unwilling to come to an agreement.

  • TikTok Runs Afoul of European Consumer Law

    TikTok Runs Afoul of European Consumer Law

    TikTok has found itself in trouble with the European Consumer Organisation BEUC, as a result of multiple infractions against EU consumer laws.

    TikTok has faced repeated criticism for breaches of privacy, especially in regard to the privacy of minor children. The company has also faced ongoing criticism, scrutiny and lawsuits over its privacy practices in general.

    The latest troubles come from the EU, as TikTok is accused of violating several EU consumer laws, according to the BEUC, including a failure to properly protect children.

    The BEUC’s investigation found that a number of TikTok’s ‘Terms of Service’ were unfair, ambiguous and favoring TikTok to users’ detriment. The same is true of the company’s copyright terms, which give TikTok “an irrevocable right to use, distribute and reproduce the videos published by users, without remuneration.”

    The BEUC took issue with how TikTok administers the coins people can purchase to reward their favorite content creators, retaining too much control over exchange rates.

    The company’s handling of user data is also misleading, with TikTok not properly informing users — especially children — of how and why their data is being collected and how it’s being used.

    Most egregiously, the company is failing to protect children and minors from potentially harmful content and and hidden advertising.

    The BEUC wants “authorities to launch a comprehensive investigation into TikTok’s policies and practices and to ensure that TikTok respects EU consumer rights. The company should properly inform consumers about its business model and data processing activities and stop imposing unfair terms and practices on its users. TikTok should also stop keeping its users in the dark about the financial consequences of buying virtual gifts for their favourite idols and improve the fairness of this service. In particular children and teenagers, who form an important part of Tik Tok’s audience must be adequately protected regarding their exposure to marketing, hidden advertising and inappropriate content.”

    Given the EU’s strong privacy and consumer legislation, TikTok’s run of fast and loose privacy practices is likely coming to an end.

  • Consumer Groups Take Amazon to Task Over Prime Cancellation Process

    Consumer Groups Take Amazon to Task Over Prime Cancellation Process

    Amazon is coming under fire from consumer groups for how it handles Prime cancellation.

    Amazon Prime is a wildly popular service the online giant offers, providing expedited shipping, steaming services, ebooks, groceries, gaming and more. Given everything the service offers, it’s $119 per year fee is a good deal, especially compared to other streaming services.

    When customers do want to cancel, however, Amazon doesn’t make it easy, running them through multiple prompts and warnings. This has caught the attention of consumer groups in both the US and the EU, according to The Seattle Times.

    A Norwegian customer rights group has filed a legal complaint against Amazon, citing the company’s cancellation policy.

    “It should be as easy to end a subscription as it was to subscribe in the first place,” said Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad, director of digital policy for the Norwegian Consumer Council. “This practice not only betrays the expectations and trust of consumers but breaches European law.”

    Groups in other EU countries have expressed support, sharing similar concerns. Even in the US, the Public Citizen consumer group has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Amazon’s policy.

    “Amazon should treat customers with respect instead of trying to undermine their autonomy and fight their decisions,” said Burcu Kilic, Public Citizen’s director of digital rights program.

    It remains to be seen if regulators will do anything about Amazon’s Prime cancellation, but the scrutiny is further evidence of the increased pressure Big Tech is under.

  • Google Closes Fitbit Deal

    Google Closes Fitbit Deal

    Google has closed its Fitbit deal, despite investigations and concerns over potential privacy and antitrust implications.

    Google announced in November 2019 that it had entered an agreement to acquire Fitbit. Immediately, the company worked to assuage potential privacy concerns over the data Fitbit has access to. The acquisition was largely seen in the context of Google’s desire to use Fitbit to better compete with the Apple Watch.

    Despite Google’s assurances, the Department of Justice and EU regulators investigated the potential acquisition, leading Google to make additional concessions to ensure the deal went forward. It appears the concessions Google made paid off, as the two companies have now closed their deal.

    James Park, Fitbit’s CEO, president, and co-founder, relayed the news in a blog post:

    I’m writing today to let you know that Fitbit is now officially part of Google. It’s an incredibly exciting moment for us as a company and for our Fitbit community of users around the globe.

    Park also tried to reassure users their privacy and data would be respected:

    The trust of our users will continue to be paramount, and we will maintain strong data privacy and security protections, giving you control of your data and staying transparent about what we collect and why. Google will continue to protect Fitbit users’ privacy and has made a series of binding commitments with global regulators, confirming that Fitbit users’ health and wellness data won’t be used for Google ads and this data will be kept separate from other Google ad data. Google also affirmed it will continue to allow Fitbit users to choose to connect to third party services. That means you’ll still be able to connect your favorite health and wellness apps to your Fitbit account. These and other commitments by Google reinforce why Google is an ideal partner for Fitbit who will continue to put our users first and help further our mission to make everyone in the world healthier.

  • EU Working On ‘Right to Disconnect’ Legislation For Remote Workers

    EU Working On ‘Right to Disconnect’ Legislation For Remote Workers

    With unprecedented numbers of employees working remotely, the EU is working on legislation that protects workers’ “right to disconnect.”

    As the coronavirus pandemic spread across the globe, employees went home in record numbers to work remotely. While many employees have loved the opportunity and flexibility of working from home, doing so has come with its own challenges. Chief among those challenges has been increased blurring of the lines between home life and work, as well as the expectation employees are always available.

    The EU is looking to address the problem. According to Deutsche Welle, “lawmakers passed a non-binding resolution arguing that individuals have a fundamental ‘right to disconnect.’”

    “After months of teleworking, many workers are now suffering from negative side effects such as isolation, fatigue, depression, burnout, muscular or eye illnesses,” said Alex Agius Saliba, the Maltese politician who pushed the resolution. “The pressure to always be reachable, always available, is mounting, resulting in unpaid overtime and burnout.”

    The next step is for the full chamber to approve the measure. It can then be submitted to the commission and the individual EU member nations for a vote.

    It’s a safe bet this kind of legislation will become more common as remote work becomes the new status quo.

  • Salesforce Plus Slack Equals a Battle Over the Cloud

    Salesforce Plus Slack Equals a Battle Over the Cloud

    Salesforce announced its much-anticipated acquisition of Slack earlier today, sparking nothing short of a battle over the cloud.

    Salesforce made headlines last week when news broke that it was looking to acquire Slack. Talks progressed rapidly, with the deal announced a few hours ago. In the statement announcing the deal, Stewart Butterfield, Slack’s CEO and Co-Founder, provided a clue about what’s at stake:

    Salesforce started the cloud revolution, and two decades later, we are still tapping into all the possibilities it offers to transform the way we work. The opportunity we see together is massive.

    Despite being responsible for starting the cloud revolution, Salesforce has come under increasing pressure from other companies, most notably Microsoft. The Redmond company has made no bones about its intention to unseat Salesforce as the dominant CRM company. Most recently, Microsoft partnered with C3.ai and Adobe to roll out an AI-based CRM.

    Similarly, Slack has been under increased pressure from Microsoft Teams. Teams doubled Slacks installed user base in November 2019 when it reached 20 million daily users. Its user base has exploded since then, reaching 115 million in October. Much of Teams’ growth has been the result of Microsoft’s bundling it with Office, a practice that prompted Slack to file an antitrust complaint with the EU.

    Butterfield’s comment about “the opportunity we see together is massive” is indicative of just how much both companies need this merger. Since its IPO, Slack has never turned a profit. To make matters worse, Slack has not experienced the same pandemic-fueled boon like Zoom and other cloud platforms. It’s experienced significant growth to be sure, but not to the same degree as competing companies.

    The combination of the two companies will help both fight Microsoft.

    “The core reason for this deal in our opinion is to keep pace with the cloud behemoth in Redmond,” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors Tuesday, reports CNN. “Slack despite facing stiff competition from Microsoft has been a clearly successful solution set further penetrating enterprises and thus looks like the natural fit for Salesforce to beef up its collaboration and messaging footprint and keep pace with [Microsoft].”

    It remains to be seen if the two companies will be more effective together, but it’s a good start. The combination of the two platforms helps both provide a more complete offering to its customers.

  • EU Poised to Crack Down on Tech Giants

    EU Poised to Crack Down on Tech Giants

    The European Union is poised to introduce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), with everything from fines to breakups on the table for tech companies.

    The EU is widely seen as more consumer friendly than the US and takes a tougher stance against corporations. The proposed legislation is no different, with stiff penalties ranging from fines to potential breakups, according to Reuters.

    The DSA is focused on making tech companies be more transparent about their algorithms, advertising and efforts to fight harmful content, hate speech and counterfeit products on their platforms.

    The DMA, in contrast, focuses on online gatekeepers and will help ensure a level playing field. Gatekeeper companies, such as those that operate app stores, will not be allowed to favor their own services. Gatekeepers will also be required to share specific data with competitors, as well as regulators.

    “We start with a fine, then you have a bigger fine, then you may have a temporary remedy, specific remedies, then you may have at the end of the day, what we have also in the competition rules, structural separation,” Digital Chief Thierry Breton told reporters during an online briefing.

    “So from fines to separations, but of course only on the European market,” he said.

  • California Voters Pass Version 2.0 of the CCPA Privacy Legislation

    California Voters Pass Version 2.0 of the CCPA Privacy Legislation

    California voters passed Proposition 24, widely considered to be version 2.0 of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

    The CCPA was a ground-breaking piece of legislation for the US, the first of its kind to so vigorously protect the privacy of consumers. In many ways, the CCPA was the American equivalent of the EU’s GDPR. Although the law was unique to California, some industry leaders vowed to apply its protections to all customers, even those outside of California.

    Proposition 24, officially known as the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), picks up where the CCPA left off, expanding the CCPA, closing loopholes and increasing protections even more.

    One of the biggest changes is the creation of a new agency that will oversee the enforcement of the regulation. Another change is that the CPRA makes companies collecting data responsible for what any companies they share that data with do with it.

    In addition, the CRPA differentiates between personally identifiable information and sensitive personally identifiable information, such as Social Security number, logins, precise location data and biometrics. This gives companies more options to fine-tune their marketing to use non-personal information, rather than lose access all-together.

    The legislation includes many other improvements, including more opt-in requirements, limits on how long companies may retain personal information, limits to how sensitive personal information may be used, reasonable expectations data will be kept secure, legal options if companies fail to do so and more.

    It’s a safe bet these increased measures and a dedicated enforcement agency will likely increase the CRPA’s reach even more than the CCPA’s. Since companies will be responsible for how third-party partners—including non-California partners—use data, many more companies will likely opt to apply CRPA protections to all of their customers in the interest of simplicity.

  • Sweden’s Largest Insurer Leaked Private Data to Tech Firms

    Sweden’s Largest Insurer Leaked Private Data to Tech Firms

    Sweden’s largest insurer, Folksam, has admitted to accidentally leaking the private data of one million of its customers to tech firms.

    According to U.S. News & World Report, Folksam insures every second home in Sweden, giving the company access to vast troves of personal and private data on its customers. Unfortunately, the company accidentally shared that data with Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and Microsoft.

    Unlike the US, the EU has strict data privacy laws in the form of the GDPR. As a result, data breaches such as this one can result in hefty fines and penalties if not handled correctly. Folksam has assured customers that it does not appear any of the data was used improperly by third-parties, and vowed to do better.

    “We take what has happened seriously. We have immediately stopped sharing this personal information and requested that it be deleted,” said Jens Wikstrom, Folksam’s head of marketing.

    This data breach is just the latest example demonstrating the risks that come with the current state of the tech industry, and specifically cross-industry interdependencies that have become commonplace.

  • EU Regulators Set to Approve Google/Fitbit Deal

    EU Regulators Set to Approve Google/Fitbit Deal

    Following concessions by Google, the EU looks ready to approve its acquisition of Fitbit.

    Google made headlines in November with its plans to purchase wearable company Fitbit for $2.1 billion. Despite the company’s promise to protect user privacy, the deal was immediately met with scrutiny by US and EU officials.

    According to Reuters, however, it appears Google has managed to assuage concerns through concessions. The company promised to restrict how Fitbit data is used, in relation to Google ads, and to improve the monitoring process. The company also committed to supporting other manufacturers and services.

    “We’re also formalizing our longstanding commitment to supporting other wearable manufacturers on Android and to continue to allow Fitbit users to connect to third party services via APIs (application programming interfaces) if they want to,” Google said in a statement.

    Given that the EU is generally stricter than the US in regulatory matters, winning EU approval is an encouraging sign that the deal will proceed unhindered.

  • Facebook May Pull Out of Europe

    Facebook May Pull Out of Europe

    Facebook is warning it may pull out of Europe over a decision by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC).

    The DPC issued a preliminary order to stop Facebook from transferring the data of European citizens to servers in the US. The EU has become increasingly wary of its citizens’ data being held in the US, given the US government’s penchant for digital surveillance.

    According to Vice, however, Facebook has warned that the DPC’s decision may cause it to pull out of the EU altogether. This would leave some 410 million users without access to Facebook and Instagram.

    Yvonne Cunnane, Facebook Ireland’s Head of Data Protection and Privacy, said “it is not clear to [Facebook] how, in those circumstances, it could continue to provide the Facebook and Instagram services in the EU.”

    What is even more unclear is if Facebook is serious about its threat, or if this is a game of legal chicken. It seems unlikely Facebook would be willing to abandon an entire continent worth of users, opening the door for a home-grown competitor to take its place.

  • Google Invests $450 Million In ADT, Forms Nest Partnership

    Google Invests $450 Million In ADT, Forms Nest Partnership

    Google has announced it is investing $450 million in security company ADT, in a multi-year partnership that will give Google a 6.6% stake.

    The deal is a win for both companies. Google benefits from ADT’s security expertise, not to mention its 20,000 professionals, who will soon be selling and installing Nest devices and services. ADT, on the other hand, benefits from Google’s AI-driven smart home developments.

    “Over time, Nest’s devices, powered by Google’s machine learning capabilities will enhance ADT’s security monitoring and become the cornerstone of ADT’s smart home offering,” writes Rishi Chandra, Vice President and GM, Nest. “The goal is to give customers fewer false alarms, more ways to receive alarm events, and better detection of potential incidents inside and around the home. It will also provide people with more helpful notifications that make everyday life more convenient, like package detection. ADT customers will also have access to Nest Aware, a service that keeps people informed about important events at home, including intelligent alerts and event history recording for up to 30 days.”

    Google has repeatedly been in the news lately, with its recent Fitbit deal under intense scrutiny in the US and the EU. Regulators are concerned with how Google will use the data it acquires from the wearables maker. It’s possible this scrutiny was a motivating factor in Google investing in ADT, rather than attempting to buy it or a competing firm outright. Whatever the motivation, it’s evident Google has high hopes for what the partnership will bring.

    “Together, we aim to create the next generation of the helpful home—based on new security solutions that will better protect and connect people to their homes and families,” writes Chandra.

  • Google Fails to Stop Full-Blown EU Fitbit Investigation

    Google Fails to Stop Full-Blown EU Fitbit Investigation

    It appears Google’s efforts to prevent an investigation into its Fitbit acquisition have been unsuccessful, with the EU ready to launch a full antitrust probe.

    Google recently announced a deal to purchase wearable maker Fitbit for $2.1 billion. Almost immediately, the deal drew scrutiny from US and EU officials over concerns about data privacy. Given the vast amount of health data Fitbit has access to, officials were concerned about Google now having access to it. In addition, there were concerns Google might use that data to unfairly gain an advantage over its rivals.

    The search giant has worked to assuage those concerns, vowing not to use the data in its advertising business. It appears those concessions were not enough, however, as CNBC is reporting the EU is planning on launching a full investigation.

    Google has repeatedly said the deal is about the devices, rather than the data. Apple has a commanding lead in the wearables market, and Google is eager to become more competitive. A successful Fitbit deal would help it do just that.

  • EU Wants More Concessions From Google Over Fitbit Deal

    EU Wants More Concessions From Google Over Fitbit Deal

    The EU is asking for more concessions from Google, over concerns its Fitbit deal will give it an unfair advantage over competitors.

    Google agreed to purchase Fitbit for $2.1 billion and almost immediately drew scrutiny from regulatory authorities on both sides of the Atlantic. As a result, the company promised not to use any Fitbit data for its advertising in an effort to assuage concerns.

    It appears those efforts were not enough, as the EU is demanding additional concessions. According to Ars Technica, EU officials are demanding that Google not use any Fitbit data to “further enhance its search advantage.” In addition, they want Google to give third parties equal access to the data.

    It’s unclear if Google will agree to the terms, but it may ultimately have no choice if it wants the deal to proceed. Given the company’s history, it seems the authorities don’t want to open the door to Google gaining even more of an advantage than it already has.

  • Slack Files Complaint Against Microsoft With EU

    Slack Files Complaint Against Microsoft With EU

    Slack has filed a complaint against Microsoft with the EU, claiming the company is engaging in anti-competitive practices with Teams.

    Slack and Teams have been locked in a bitter battle over the corporate messaging market. While Microsoft’s app has far surpassed Slack, in terms of users, Slack has continued to rack up some impressive contracts. In particular, Slack has become a popular choice among companies that compete with Microsoft and don’t want to rely on one of their competitors for their communication.

    Now Slack has upped the ante even more, filing a complaint with the EU. In particular, Slack is claiming that Microsoft is unfairly tying Teams to Office.

    “We’re confident that we win on the merits of our product, but we can’t ignore illegal behavior that deprives customers of access to the tools and solutions they want,” said Jonathan Prince, Vice President of Communications and Policy at Slack. “Slack threatens Microsoft’s hold on business email, the cornerstone of Office, which means Slack threatens Microsoft’s lock on enterprise software.”

    Microsoft should be concerned by this complaint, as it is similar to the complaint that was successfully used in Microsoft’s antitrust case in 2001. To make matters worse for the company, the EU is currently scrutinizing numerous US companies for anti-competitive practices. All of this means that Microsoft may find itself in an unfavorable climate should Slack’s complaint move forward.

  • Court Kills EU-US Privacy Shield

    Court Kills EU-US Privacy Shield

    An EU court has struck down a privacy agreement that made it possible to share the data of EU citizens with the US.

    Under the EU-US Privacy Shield, companies could implement higher privacy standards to allow for the transfer of EU citizen data. This was necessary because of the EU’s stricter privacy legislation. In spite of the goals behind the Privacy Shield, privacy groups raised a number of concerns about its effectiveness.

    In particular, advocates were concerned about the privacy threat the US government poses. Thanks to the Edward Snowden leaks, the world is aware of the US government’s long history of digital spying, even on law-abiding citizens. Advocates were concerned that, even if a company met the necessary data sharing privacy requirements, there was no guarantee the US government wouldn’t snoop on any shared data.

    Max Schrems, an Austrian privacy advocate, initially filed the complaint that eventually made its way to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). After considering the case, the ECJ struck down the law.

    This will have major ramifications for many companies with customers in the EU. At the very least, companies will need to use Standard Contractual Clauses. This is a type of non-negotiable legal contract drawn up in the EU that governs data transfers. Specifically, they are used to make sure any data transfer abides by the GDPR privacy laws, especially when transferring the data to a country that does not have the same level of privacy protection.

    The ECJ’s decision is a big win for privacy advocates, and will no doubt put additional pressure on the US to adopt privacy regulation of its own.

  • Google Vows Not to Use Fitbit Data For Advertising

    Google Vows Not to Use Fitbit Data For Advertising

    In an effort to prevent the EU from challenging its Fitbit deal, Google has committed to not using Fitbit data in its advertising.

    Google announced in November that it had entered a definitive agreement to purchase Fitbit to the tune of $2.1 billion. Almost immediately, the deal was scrutinized by lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic. The DOJ announced in December it was opening an investigation into the deal, citing privacy concerns over the sensitive health information Fitbit has access to. Similarly, the EU launched its own investigation into the deal over similar concerns.

    In an effort to stave off any attempt to block the deal, Google has now committed to not using any Fitbit data to target its ads. In an emailed statement to Reuters, Google said the following:

    “This deal is about devices, not data. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the European Commission on an approach that safeguards consumers’ expectations that Fitbit device data won’t be used for advertising,” Google said in an emailed statement.

    Google’s statement emphasizes why it pursued the Fitbit deal to begin with, even outbidding Facebook for the wearable maker. Apple is currently the dominant wearables company, with Samsung making a respectable showing as well. Buying Fitbit gives Google a better chance of competing against the market leaders.

  • California Begins Enforcing New Privacy Law

    California Begins Enforcing New Privacy Law

    Following a six month grace period, California has begun enforcing its new privacy regulation, effective July 1.

    The California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) was signed into law on January 1. Similar to the EU’s GDPR, the CCPA is a robust set of laws designed to protect individual privacy and give consumers more control over the data companies collect about them. Companies were given a six month grace period before enforcement began, but that grace period ended on June 30.

    The CCPA likely impacts more companies than many realize. It directly applies to companies that do $25 million in annual revenue, companies that derive at least half of their revenue from selling their customers’ data or companies that collect data on at least 50,000 individuals.

    Potential penalties are high enough to ensure compliance. Non-intentional violations could cost as much as $2,500 per incident, while intentional violations could cost as much as $7,500.

    While many companies have struggled to be ready for the new law, privacy advocates have praised it for protecting the interests of consumers.

  • Google Accused of Tracking EU Users

    Google Accused of Tracking EU Users

    Austrian privacy advocate Max Schrems has levied a complaint against Google, accusing the search giant of tracking users and passing the info to advertisers.

    Google has been mired in privacy and antitrust issues in the EU, generally considered to be the most privacy and consumer-focused part of the world. EU regulators have repeatedly hit Google with billions of dollars in fines, in 2017, ’18 and ’19.

    Now Bloomberg is reporting that Schrems campaign group Noyb has accused Google of using a unique ID to track Android users without the proper opt-in consent.

    “Google does not collect valid ‘opt-in’ consent before generating the tracking ID, but seems to generate these IDs without user consent,” according to the group.

    “Android does not allow deleting the tracking ID. It only allows users to generate a new tracking ID to replace the existing tracking ID. This neither deletes the data that was collected before, nor stops tracking going forward.”

    If the claim has merit, the EU’s GDPR laws allow for fines up to “4% of a company’s global annual sales.” If Google is found guilty, the result could be one of its biggest fines yet.

  • Twitter Disables User Control of Advertising Data

    Twitter Disables User Control of Advertising Data

    Twitter took a big step backward in its efforts to protect user privacy, eliminating user control over data used for advertising.

    In an announcement that started showing up when users logged on, Twitter said the goal of the change was to help it continue as a free service. The announcement read:

    An update to your data-sharing settings

    The control you have over what information Twitter shares with its business partners has changed. Specifically, your ability to control mobile app advertising measurements has been removed, but you can control whether to share some non-public data to improve Twitter’s marketing activities on other sites and apps. These changes, which help Twitter to continue operating as a free service, are reflected now in your settings.

    The move is disappointing for users who value their privacy, although users in the European Union are unaffected by the change. Thanks to the EU’s GDPR, companies are required by law to give users control over their own data and how it is used.

    After Twitter’s announcement, it won’t be surprising if there are renewed calls for GDPR-style legislation in the U.S.