Germany Launches Legal Action Against Facebook

[Loonerinoes]

"There are much stronger privacy laws in Europe than here, where privacy is viewed as a consumer protection issue as opposed to a fundamental human right,"


Doesn't Europe have cameras on every freaking street corner?

Moreso within the developed European countries. Within newer additions to the EU they are somewhat less prolific, though still present.

To me the idea of privacy within Europe in general seems to boil down to this. What you do in public space within city-limits (where such cameras are present) is something that the public has every right to know. But what happens within the privacy of your own home and out in the countryside (or your own personal info and details)? That is none of the public's business at all. No talks of "But they might be harboring TERRORISTS!" no whining about "OMG DEY COULD BE SURFIN' CHILD MOLESTING SITEZ!" - if it takes place within your own home or is a vital part of your privacy in general, chances are it has a right to stay private. Such is the basic perception of most Europeans I think on this issue.

Or at least that's my perception of it. Someone skilled in EU law might be somewhat more informative on this issue.

 

[Ravek]

Doesn't Europe have cameras on every freaking street corner?

No, not at all. Maybe in the UK, they tend to have more of that kind of thing.

Not that it matters anyway ... what you do in the public space isn't private. You know, by definition.

 

[Keava]

In Poland we have similar case with a community portal called Nasza Klasa (Our Class..or MySql for the more geeky users). It is pretty much same thing as Facebook, just primarily built with thought of old school reunions in mind.

Over last month there were several cases in courts against false profiles, or publishing personal data/photos of people without their consent. So far each time the company behind the portal lost each and every of such cases. Many of users of that portal decided to remove their accounts lately from there, due to all those news. So yeah, if you can make enough of media buzz around a specific problem everything is possible.

Im all for Germany actually winning this.

 

[Th37thTrump3t]

Whether or not Zuckerburg doesn't believe in privacy, he believes in money. That means that he will, likely, take measures to avoid having his ass sued off. Just think about it. If Germany succeeds, other countries will probably attempt to do the same. It could mean the end of Facebook.

...wait, did I just say that outloud? WOOHOOO! It could be the end of Facebook!

I say we throw a huge fucking party and get piss-in-pants wasted for 2 weeks straight!

 

[Bobzer77]

"There are much stronger privacy laws in Europe than here, where privacy is viewed as a consumer protection issue as opposed to a fundamental human right,"


Doesn't Europe have cameras on every freaking street corner?

In a wide sweeping sentence you've asked if an entire continent has cameras on every street corner XD

Some countries maybe, but most of them no.

OT: For the first time in my life I agree with a government authority on something internet related.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

Waw, so not only am I in danger of having my private information abused and exposed if I have a Facebook account (which I don't, precisely for such reasons), I am also in danger even if I don't have one.

With each passing day, I grow to dislike these so-called "social network services" more and more.

 

[Anacortian]

If this is over data given to Facebook by a third party (members who know the offended) then the friends are the logical violators of the privacy rights. Why are the friends not being taken to court. To hold Facebook liable is like demanding reparations from a mall because somebody spoke ill of you there.

Oh, wait. I forgot, one has a much better chance of getting six figures out of Facebook than one would some teenager/troll/slanderer (or read private citizen).

 

[Spygon]

I find funny how people are making so much noise about privacy on the net when you can pick up a phone book or a census and normally find out alot more dangerous info as i cant see if they like the foo fighters or if they were drinking last weekend are going to cause any other problems.

 

[Monocle Man]

I find funny how people are making so much noise about privacy on the net when you can pick up a phone book or a census and normally find out alot more dangerous info as i cant see if they like the foo fighters or if they were drinking last weekend are going to cause any other problems.

Information available on Facebook, Twitter or whatever:
"Went with a friend to a bar, see if he can find a nice girl so he won't remain alone in that big house of his."
*Picture of me and friend at bar* "Was awesome, next week we're going again".

Then a person with bad intentions within driving distance can look up the location and knows that place will be desolated at X time.
Any information in the wrong hands can be harmful and the internet harbours many wrong hands.

 

[NLS]

Ummm, and what about Germany's own surveillance over the entire traffic that goes through the civilian internet and (mobile) phone network?
The stuff they are storing about EVERYTHING you (as a german citizen) do is far worse tahn what some of your friends might post on facebook.

 

[Stabby Joe]

"There are much stronger privacy laws in Europe than here, where privacy is viewed as a consumer protection issue as opposed to a fundamental human right,"


Doesn't Europe have cameras on every freaking street corner?

Shhh, they'll find you!

 

[Jamash]

"There are much stronger privacy laws in Europe than here, where privacy is viewed as a consumer protection issue as opposed to a fundamental human right,"


Doesn't Europe have cameras on every freaking street corner?

Just because we have the cameras doesn't mean we actually use them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/birmingham/10337961.stm

Privacy is still taken seriously, even more so than the threat of terrorism.

 

[DTWolfwood]

Sounds like a legitimate complaint to me. Simple fix really. Only allow tagging of members of Facebook. boom done

Makes total sense to me

 

[Spygon]

I find funny how people are making so much noise about privacy on the net when you can pick up a phone book or a census and normally find out alot more dangerous info as i cant see if they like the foo fighters or if they were drinking last weekend are going to cause any other problems.

Information available on Facebook, Twitter or whatever:
"Went with a friend to a bar, see if he can find a nice girl so he won't remain alone in that big house of his."
*Picture of me and friend at bar* "Was awesome, next week we're going again".

Then a person with bad intentions within driving distance can look up the location and knows that place will be desolated at X time.
Any information in the wrong hands can be harmful and the internet harbours many wrong hands.

Really if anybody even tags that stuff or the friends stuff like that its there own fault.As i have only tagged or been tagged in the old:"haha phil you look so drunk,what an amazing night have to do it again soon,or phil busting some moves on the dancefloor,phil looking good or wtf are you guys doing lol" type lines.

I understand that personal information is dangerous and shouldnt be able to fall into the wrong hands buts it too late this happened way before Facebook actually proberly before the internet.

 

[nohorsetown]

I'm rooting for Germany. I hate social networking crap, and refuse to be a part of it. I had a myspace page a while back, and that shit was just annoying. Everyone expected me to be constantly checking up on them. I deleted it, salted the earth, never looked back, and I'm happier without it. (Still kept my music page, but that's mainly just for backing up my songs, and for the rare occasion where I might wanna play one for someone but don't have any other access to it.)

My wife has a facebook page, but the way it's turned out, it's mostly just her family keeping tabs on her all the time, and old acquaintances from highschool she doesn't like anymore seeking her out and harassing her until she "friends" them. Of course, she can't get rid of it now, or she'll offend everyone (sounds great to me, but she's afraid of confrontation.. *sigh*).

The Onion did a bit on facebook that was hilariously spot-on: bored middle-aged housewives constantly spying on their college-aged kids. "See, ya click here, and you can see his photos.. who's that girl he's with?.. we just click on her, here's her facebook page.. says her name is so-and-so.. oh my, now look at *her* photos.. what a tramp. Not good enough for my boy.. I'll just send her a threatening message.." etc.

Tell ya what: if I wanna socialize with someone, I will fucking call them on the fucking phone. I don't give a damn what everyone's "status" is from moment to moment. By today's standards, I guess I'm a freakin' hermit, because I don't even have a cellphone. Why would I want to be reachable by everyone at every point? I don't even answer the landline phone unless I want to. Leave a message on the answering machine, and I will get back to you when I feel like it. When I was growing up, this was normal.

Why does everyone want to be constantly jacked-in to everyone else? Hate to break it it to ya, but people are not any more interesting than they ever were. It's like a grass-roots Big Brother initiative. And now people like me will have our privacy violated, just because we emailed someone who happened to sign up for facebook down the road? Some of my email "contacts" are definitely on there.. do I have to burn bridges with all of my friends and only hang out with other "resistance members" from now on? I hope Germany sticks it to 'em, and I hope they get worse coming to them down the line. Buncha attention-starved gossips with nothing real going on, I tells ya. Get off my lawn.

 

[Monocle Man]

I find funny how people are making so much noise about privacy on the net when you can pick up a phone book or a census and normally find out alot more dangerous info as i cant see if they like the foo fighters or if they were drinking last weekend are going to cause any other problems.

Information available on Facebook, Twitter or whatever:
"Went with a friend to a bar, see if he can find a nice girl so he won't remain alone in that big house of his."
*Picture of me and friend at bar* "Was awesome, next week we're going again".

Then a person with bad intentions within driving distance can look up the location and knows that place will be desolated at X time.
Any information in the wrong hands can be harmful and the internet harbours many wrong hands.

Really if anybody even tags that stuff or the friends stuff like that its there own fault.As i have only tagged or been tagged in the old:"haha phil you look so drunk,what an amazing night have to do it again soon,or phil busting some moves on the dancefloor,phil looking good or wtf are you guys doing lol" type lines.

I understand that personal information is dangerous and shouldnt be able to fall into the wrong hands buts it too late this happened way before Facebook actually proberly before the internet.

If a friend puts it on his facebook without your consent it isn't really your own fault, that is what Germany wants to stop.
The internet and facebook-esque things make it much, much easier for these things to fall in untrustworthy hands
Before the internet such information was usually given to the barber (social-sites are therefore killing the barber business) and the barber then said "Oh, X went on a holiday until the end of the week" to those who said "I haven't heard much of X, lately". The involved people knew each other, and so there was less risk. On the internet you don't know everyone who can see you and that creates a few risks.

The internet is a busy road where there are still no traffic lights at the crossroads to keep the people somewhat away from harm. It's your own fault if you drive across without regard of vehicles coming from other directions but it's still better to lower that risk than to make people learn from grave mistakes.

 

[Jamieson 90]

I'm glad something is being done about this. I don't have Facebook and I don't want to be on it either by my own choosing or because other people put up my information. Thankfully that hasn't happened but if It did I would like to know there was something to protect me.

 

[The Random One]

I can't believe a government's paranoid reaction to internet is actually going towards a cause that deserves it for once. I, for one, have decided to skip Facebook and go straight to whatever the next big social website thingy is, and I'm not at risk at showing up in photos because I don't have any social life and don't show up in photos.

 

[maxben]

"There are much stronger privacy laws in Europe than here, where privacy is viewed as a consumer protection issue as opposed to a fundamental human right,"


Doesn't Europe have cameras on every freaking street corner?

You're thinking Britain.