Facebook could soon feel the wrath of a new German blitzkreig after being given 5 days to stop providing personal data to third-party app makers without getting users’ explicit consent or face legal action.
The move comes after the social network site was forced to suspend its photo-tagging feature for new users in the UK and Europe – and could be forced to destroy its entire photo database – after German data protection officials accused it of gathering the data illegally.
Now, the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (VZBV), an organisation which represents the 16 consumer centres of the German states as well as 25 other consumer associations, claims the launch of Facebook’s App Center in July has had a negative impact on its data protection practice
Instead of asking users if it is allowed to share their data, user consent is simply assumed by clicking on the “play game” or “send to phone” button, the group claims.
Facebook does provide a limited list in a small font that describes access that will be granted to an app provider. This includes access to a users’ chat, information about friends, personal contact information and the ability to post on a users’ Facebook wall.
But it is illegal to provide this data under German laws unless conscious consent is given by by the user, according to the VZBV.
“We do not exclude taking further legal steps when the ultimatum ends without a declaration of Facebook to change the settings,” said Katharina Maria Nocun, policy officer for the VZBV.
“We hope that the company will try to find a solution that respects the consumer rights and German law,” she said, adding that the VZBV sued Facebook in the past over “friend-finder” and unclear formulations in its Terms of Service.
A Facebook spokesman said that the social network was looking into the matter.
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