• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

TechEngage®

Connecting mankind with technology

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cryptocurrency
  • How-to
  • Roundups
  • Science
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Space
  • Apps
  • More
    • Opinion
    • Noteworthy
    • Culture
    • Events
    • Deals
    • Startups
      • Startup Submissions
  • Videos
  • Tools
TechEngage » News » Social Networks

Facebook faces a strict ruling in Germany

Noor Imtiaz Updated: January 11, 2020

facebook logo with germany flag in the background
Design by Muntaha Hussain | TechEngage
FacebookTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail

In Germany, a ruling on Thursday has declared that Facebook abused its dominance in the social media market. A German antitrust watchdog had been investigating Facebook for apparent violations of market rules. The historic ruling that concluded the investigation has declared that Facebook was amassing data without the consent of its users. Germany has decided it will no longer allow Facebook to collect data from users without their express consent. Using data posted on one of Facebook’s platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) for targeted advertising on another will also be prohibited from now on.

Andreas Mundt is the chief of the Federal Cartel Office or the Bundeskartellamt. He said in a press statement:

“In future, Facebook will no longer be allowed to force its users to agree to the practically unrestricted collection and assigning of non-Facebook data to their Facebook accounts.”

The Investigation

The Bundeskartellamt is an antitrust watchdog. Its job is to make sure competition survives and that no company builds a monopoly in a market. With WhatsApp and Instagram as sister platforms, Facebook is clearly dominating the social media landscape. It was hence crucial to know whether Facebook was abusing its position in order to consolidate its control.

The Bundeskartellamt had been going after the way Facebook handles personal data since the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This scandal revealed how hackers exploited personal data from tens of millions of Facebook customers. Later investigations also revealed that Facebook knew about this and did nothing to prevent it.

2018 was a year filled with scandal for Facebook. In January, the Bundeskartellamt had concluded their investigation and a German newspaper revealed they were to give an official ruling in a few weeks. That ruling is finally here.

Ruling and Reaction

The ruling states that Facebook can no longer combine data from its various platforms. This can only happen if Facebook gets explicit consent from its users. The FCO (Federal Cartel Office) gave Facebook one month to appeal the ruling. However, Facebook will have to abide by the decision within four months if they lose the appeal. If Facebook does not comply with the ruling, the FCO can impose a fine of 10% of their annual revenue. This could amount to more than five billion dollars.

Andreas Mundt also said:

“In the operation of its business model the company must take into account that Facebook users practically cannot switch to other social networks […] The only choice the user has is either to accept the comprehensive combination of data or to refrain from using the social network. In such a difficult situation the user’s choice cannot be referred to as voluntary consent.”

Restraining Facebook from combining personal data across its platforms is a landmark decision. Even though it is presently only applicable in Germany, its ripples will be felt within regulatory bodies of other countries too.

Facebook has officially taken a defensive stance in response to the ruling. In a blog post, Facebook representatives wrote:

“The [cartel office] underestimates the fierce competition we face in Germany, misinterprets our compliance with [European privacy rules] and undermines the mechanisms European law provides for ensuring consistent data protection standards across the EU.”

With a strong reaction from Facebook, the situation is still unfolding.

This post was originally published on February 8, 2019 and was updated on January 11, 2020.

Filed Under: Social Networks Tagged With: Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Germany, Instagram, WhatsApp

Related Stories

  • Twitter is killing Fleets

    Twitter is killing Fleets

  • Facebook is paying users to install invasive “Research” app

    Facebook is paying users to install invasive “Research” app

  • Twitter was down, causes a backlash from its users worldwide

    Twitter was down, causes a backlash from its users worldwide

FacebookTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail

About Noor Imtiaz

Currently a MS student in Healthcare Biotech at Pakistan’s National University of Science and Technology juggling pure science and creative writing. I’m an avid reader who makes more time for books than Netflix.

Reader Interactions

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

Please read our comment policy before submitting your comment. Your email address will not be used or published anywhere. You will only receive comment notifications if you opt to subscribe below.

Primary Sidebar

Become a contributor

We are accepting contributor applications. All applications will be decided in 3 days after applying. To learn more visit the contributors page.
TextSheet Alternative

6 Top Alternatives to Textsheet for 2025

Muhammad Zeshan Sarwar October 5, 2024

battery draining apps

Top 10 battery draining apps to avoid 2025

Muhammad Abdullah October 5, 2024

Recent Stories

  • 6 Top Alternatives to Textsheet for 2025
  • Top 10 battery draining apps to avoid 2025
  • The Benefits of Having a Small Air Compressor for Flat Tires
  • 4 Best Free VPNs for 2025
  • 9 Best Calendar Apps in 2025

Footer

Discover

  • About us
  • Newsroom
  • Staff
  • Advertise
  • Send us a tip
  • Startup Submission Questionnaire
  • Brand Kit
  • Contact us

Legal pages

  • Reviews Guarantee
  • Community Guidelines
  • Corrections Policy and Practice
  • Cookies Policy
  • Our Ethics
  • Disclaimer
  • GDPR Compliance
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Must reads

  • Best AirPods alternatives on Amazon
  • Best PC monitors for gaming on Amazon
  • Best family board games
  • Best video doorbells without subscription
  • Best handheld video game consoles
  • Best all-season tires for snow
  • Best mobile Wi-Fi hotspots
  • Best treadmills on Amazon

Download our apps

TechEngage app coming soon on App Store

© 2024 TechEngage®. All Rights Reserved. TechEngage® is a project of TechAbout LLC.

TechEngage® is a registered trademark in the United States under Trademark Number 6823709 and in the United Kingdom under Trademark Number UK00003417167. It is also ISSN protected under ISSN 2690-3776 and has OCLC Number 1139335774.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy