EU top court dismisses class action suit against Facebook

[nitpicker]

http://www.dw.com/en/eu-top-court-dismisses-class-action-suit-against-facebook/a-42298391

EU top court dismisses class action suit against Facebook

25.01.2018
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Europe's highest court ruled on Thursday that Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems could not bring a class action lawsuit against Facebook for what he claims is illegal use of private data. With 25,000 signatories to his suit, Schrems' case was highly unusual for Europe, where class action lawsuits are rarely recognized.

The facts of the case:

- Since 2014, Schrems has been making assertions that Facebook violates the data protection rights of European users, including giving their data to a US intelligence agency.

- Facebook claims that it adheres to European Union privacy laws.

- The social media giant has also argued that Schrems, as an author and lecturer on privacy rights, has a professional interest in the case and thus cannot be treated as a normal customer under consumer protection laws.

- Schrems was seeking 500 euros ($620.55) in damages for each of his 25,000 co-plaintiffs.

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In its ruling, the ECJ wrote that "Mr, Schrems may bring an individual action in Austria against Facebook Ireland," but that he could not use consumer laws to benefit himself and fellow claimants.
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Why this matters: Facebook has repeatedly come under fire for tracking users' behavior and the information it passes along to advertisers, though it has yet to face any serious legal consequences over its practices.
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