14 Jan. 2022 in FINANCIAL
Ⓒ ANP/HH
LONDON (AFN/RTR) – Facebook is facing a mass claim in the United Kingdom that could amount to more than 2.3 billion pounds (2.8 billion euros). The lawyer Liza Lovdahl Gormsen is suing the American group on behalf of all Britons who used Facebook between 2015 and 2019. During that period, they had to agree to unfair terms of use that forced them to transfer personal data to the social media platform, Lovdahl Gormsen claims.
Ⓒ ANP/HH
Lovdahl Gormsen is filing a so-called 'opt-out mass claim'. In addition, you claim a claim on behalf of a predefined group that automatically participates in the case, unless they indicate that they do not want this. A special competition authority in London, the Competition Appeal Tribunal, will look into the case.
The lawyer obtained her doctorate on the subject of abuse of market power. She is also a key advisor to the UK financial regulator. According to Lovdahl Gormsen, Facebook made a lot of money thanks to all the data about its users collected through the social media platform and features like Facebook Pixel, which tracks many people's surfing behavior for personalized advertisements.
“In the 17 years since its creation, Facebook has become the only social network in the UK where you can keep in touch with friends and family in one place,” says Lovdahl Gormsen. “But there was also a dark side to Facebook. It abused its market dominance to impose unfair terms on ordinary Britons, allowing it to exploit their personal data.”
However, Facebook argues that its services became popular because they were of great value to UK consumers. In addition, users of the platform would have had control over what information they wanted to share with parent company Meta's platforms and with whom.
Facebook has also been sued in the Netherlands for handling users' private data. Last summer, the court in Amsterdam ruled that a lawsuit brought by the Consumers' Association and Data Privacy Foundation (DPS) could continue, despite objections from Facebook.
In 2017, privacy regulators in the Netherlands and France already ruled that Facebook had violated the national laws of those countries with the way it handled user data. The organizations then filed a collective lawsuit.
DFT Daily
Every morning the most important financial news.
Invalid email address. Please fill in again.
Read our privacy policy here.
View more from
Feb 15 Video
Glennis Grace walks out of here after three days in prison
Singer Glennis Grace is free again, but remains a suspect in an assault case. Glennis Grace came out with her son on Tuesday evening, but clearly did not want to speak to the press present.
"Perfect time to let loose"
Almost two years after an intelligent lockdown was introduced to quell the coronavirus, Dutch citizens have quickly been released from the vast majority of Covid restrictions. If February 25th everyone without a QR code, corona admission ticket, mouth cap and one and a half meters away to the…
Feb 15 Video
Starting with crypto? Experts help you on your way!
The Financial Telegraph is organizing a crypto consultation hour on Monday 21 February. Questions about crypto, blockchain or NFTs can be submitted here. Do you have questions? Send these in to [email protected] and these questions will be answered by e-mail by various experts.
Camilla feared Meghan would never sacrifice her career
While Meghan Markle officially abdicated from the royal family last year and retired to Los Angeles with Harry, Camilla has just carved her place in the heart of the royal family. The Queen recently announced that she wishes the Duchess of Cornwall to become Queen as…
Feb 15 Domestic
Fire brigade comes out to free young man from penis ring
A man in Twente found himself in a precarious position on Valentine's Day. The man reported to the emergency department of the ZGT Hospital because he could no longer remove his cock ring from his penis. The fire brigade had to use heavy artillery to free the unfortunate young man…
Feb 15. Nice in your skin challenge
What do you think of the Tasty in your skin challenge?
The Nice in your skin challenge 2022 is over! We are very curious about your experience. Is this your first year participating in our challenge? What did you like and what did you like less? Let us know in the survey below!
