Facebook Told Again To Stop Tracking Non-Users

Facebook received yet another slap on the wrist in Europe last week when a Belgian court upheld its ruling that the social media giant can’t track Internet across the web.

This is just the latest in a series of legal battles Facebook has found itself engaged in across Europe. In fact, the Belgian court originally ordered Facebook to stop tracking Internet users in 2015 or face harsh financial penalties. However, Facebook appealed that ruling and won based on the fact that its headquarters are located in Ireland. However, now that ruling has been overturned, and Facebook has promised to continue appealing it.

The dispute centers around Facebook’s use of cookies and web plug-ins to track users and non-users alike across the web. This creepy practice has been highly criticized, especially in Europe, but Facebook defended itself by saying that it lets users know what it’s doing.

“We require any business that uses our technologies to provide clear notice to end-users, and we give people the right to opt-out of having data collected on sites and apps off Facebook being used for ads,” Facebook VP Richard Allan said in a statement.

It’s unclear why Europeans seem to care so much more about their privacy than American Facebook users do, but at least there’s someone out there fighting for it.