Privacy Campaigners Accuse Pinterest of Secretly Gathering Personal Data for Targeted Advertising
Privacy Breach: Pinterest Users Automatically Opted-In to Data Sharing
Privacy campaigners have filed a complaint against lifestyle website Pinterest, accusing it of secretly gathering personal data to use for targeted advertising. According to the complaint, Pinterest users are automatically opted-in to data sharing, a breach of European Union (EU) privacy laws.
France-based Group "None Of Your Business" Files Complaint
The complaint was filed by Austria-based group "None Of Your Business" (NOYB) on Tuesday in France after receiving a complaint from a French user of the platform. NOYB is a non-profit organization that campaigns for stronger data protection laws and has been instrumental in shaping Europe’s data privacy regulations.
Pinterest’s Approach to Targeted Advertising
Pinterest says that their approach to targeted advertising complies with EU privacy law. However, NOYB argues that Pinterest is secretly tracking European users without asking for their consent. This allows the social media platform to profit from people’s personal data without them ever finding out.
Europe’s 2018 Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR)
NOYB is spearheading a campaign to have Europe’s 2018 regulation on data privacy (GDPR) enforced by complaining to data regulators in jurisdictions across the bloc. GDPR imposes strict limits on the reasons a company or other entity can use to justify gathering personal data in Europe. However, many tech companies have built their businesses by taking people’s data and using it to sell targeted advertising.
"Legitimate Interest" Exception
Firms initially relied on an exception that allowed them to bypass GDPR’s restrictions by claiming they had a "legitimate interest" in harvesting the data. However, EU regulators and the European Court of Justice have repeatedly ruled that "legitimate interest" cannot be used to warrant collecting such information for targeted advertising.
Consequences of Ignoring GDPR Rules
NOYB’s Sardeli argues that it appears Pinterest is actively ignoring a European Court of Justice ruling in order to maximize its profits. The group is asking France’s data regulator CNIL to erase users’ information, impose a fine on Pinterest, and oblige it to comply with the GDPR rules.
Conclusion
The case highlights the ongoing struggle for privacy in the digital age. As companies continue to harvest personal data for profit, it is essential that regulators and lawmakers hold them accountable. The outcome of this complaint could set a crucial precedent for data protection in Europe and around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the nature of the complaint against Pinterest?
A: The complaint is about Pinterest’s secret gathering of personal data for targeted advertising, which is a breach of European Union privacy laws.
Q: What is the European Union’s 2018 data privacy regulation (GDPR)?
A: GDPR imposes strict limits on the reasons a company or other entity can use to justify gathering personal data in Europe.
Q: Why is the "legitimate interest" exception problematic?
A: The European Court of Justice has ruled that "legitimate interest" cannot be used to warrant collecting personal data for targeted advertising.
Q: What is the goal of the complaint?
A: NOYB is asking France’s data regulator CNIL to erase users’ information, impose a fine on Pinterest, and oblige it to comply with the GDPR rules.