In a recent legal incident surfacing from the European Union (EU), Meta Platforms Inc., formerly known as Facebook Inc., received a cautionary notice regarding its use of public user data related to their sexual orientation. The warning stated that the company should refrain from using this sensitive information for targeted advertising within the framework of the EU’s data protection rules.
An adviser to the European Union’s highest-ranking court has suggested a ban on Meta’s practices that involve exploiting users’ personal and sensitive data for advertisement purposes. The way Meta has been harnessing public information pertaining to users’ sexual orientation appears to be in defiance of the data protection guidelines established by the EU.
This warning sends an important message to multi-national tech giants regarding their responsibility to abide by data protection norms and highest standards of privacy for their users. The protection of sensitive personal data is a subject of growing importance within the legal landscape and this incident serves to underline its precedence.
The full details of the case and the EU advisory’s warning can be found on Bloomberg Law.