In November a court in Brussels upheld a claim brought by the Belgian Privacy Commission that found Facebook was violating personal data protection laws by using cookies to track internet users without a Facebook account. These non-members had not given explicit consent for Facebook to track their browsing, putting the social network in violation of EU laws on the use of cookies and personal privacy. The company faces a fine of EUR 250,000 a day if it does not comply with the order.
Facebook claimed the use of the so-called 'datr' cookie was needed for security purposes. In a short statement reported by the paper De Standaard, the company said the cookie had helped prevent more 33,000 attempts to break into Belgian Facebook users' accounts last month. Facebook said it was disappointed that it could not negotiate an agreement with the Belgian Privacy Commission on use of the cookie and it expects the regulator will take action against other websites using similar methods.
BPC chairman Willem Debeuckelare was critical of Facebook's decision to shutdown public access, suggesting it could be a violation of civil rights laws guaranteeing free speech and access to information. He said the Belgian regulator will be working with its EU counterparts to continue the case against Facebook.
