Facebook told by Belgian court to stop tracking non-users

[inanna]

Source: BBC

16 minutes ago

Facebook says it will appeal against the decision and that the order relates to a cookie it has used for five years.

The cookie is installed when an internet user visits a Facebook page even if they are not members.

However, the Belgian court said that the company was obliged to obtain consent to collect the information being gathered.

"The judge ruled that this is personal data, which Facebook can only use if the internet user expressly gives their consent, as Belgian privacy law dictates," it said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34765937

[Helen Borg]

1. Makes sense to me.

[yodermon]

2. Nearly every website uses cookies. If this stands, and all websites are forced to follow suit,

the web will cease to function in Belgium.

[passiveporcupine]

4. I don't think so

I've noticed quite a few web sites now that have a pop-up that says they use cookies and your continuing to use the site means you accept this and allow them to do it.

Mostly news sites, but it probably works the same way as what facebook will need to to. To visit facebook, you will have to ignore the pop-up and "allow" them to use cookies that track you.

I use ccleaner numerous times in the day, just to free up my slow machine, but it also removes all those cookies that I get by visiting those news sites (like CNN). I often just close the tab and don't allow the cookie. It depends on how much I want to see what was there.

I didn't think you could visit facebook without an account though?

[closeupready]

3. Considering FB is practically a private sector intelligence arm of the NSA,

I hardly think they'd comply even if they said they would. (All just MHO, worth what you paid for it.)