EU Targets Facebook's Ad System

redletterdave writes "The European Commission plans to put a stop to the way Facebook gathers information about its users, including their political opinions, religious beliefs, whereabouts and sexual preferences, and how the social network sells that information for commercial purposes. A new EC Directive aims to ban targeted advertising unless users specifically allow it, and to amend the current European data protection laws to ensure consistency in how offending sites are dealt with across the EU. If the European Commission has its way, Facebook would suffer big losses in advertising dollars that fund its site, which would further damage the company's plans to go public next year. Facebook has defended itself, claiming its advertisers target wide demographics like age and location, rather than specific individuals. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company denies outright that it misuses or mishandles user information."

Re:Why would FB care anyhow?

[dave420]

You don't have a clue about the EC if you claim that. Stop reading the Daily Mail and start reading actual newspapers.

Easy opt-out

[kelemvor4]

Adblock+ [adblockplus.org] works perfectly well for facebook just like it does for most other sites. I suppose an opt-in system is better, but adblock covers pretty much all websites while this half measure covers only facebook.

The best way to avoid facebook getting your info

[Oswald McWeany]

The best way to avoid facebook getting your info:

DO NOT SIGN UP FOR FACEBOOK.

Yes, they have alternate ways of tracking you and getting your information- but if you don't sign up for facebook you get more spare time, and less privacy stolen.

If you already are a member- quit now before you give away some other facet of your life.

Honestly- we all know how evil they are by now- so why do people keep using them? Is it really worth giving away every piece of information of your life just to play crappy games (that most slashdotters could write a better version of in an evening).

Re:You can opt out

[similar_name]

Don't forget to block Facebook on your computer. Since every website that has a Facebook Like button or other widget loads that widget from Facebook. Facebook still knows many of the sites visited from your IP. Of course the same is true for Google widgets/ads and pretty much any widget.

Re:You can opt out

[Forty Two Tenfold]

http://cariblogger.com/2010/07/how-to-block-facebook-using-hosts-file/ [cariblogger.com]

Re:You can opt out

[Bucky24]

I use Ghostery for Chrome. Works like a charm-I haven't seen a Facebook like button in almost a month.

EU Law and Court

[andersh]

It's simple. The EU is similar to the US Federal government. The member countries are subject to EU law where applicable, they have signed treaties to that effect.

If a member country does not apply the relevant law correctly, charges will be brought before the The Court of Justice of the European Union [europa.eu].

If the member state loses the case it will be subject to punitive measures until it corrects the situation. There is a lot to lose for the member country in question.