Belgian courts wrangle over Facebook's tracking cookies

In June 2015, the Belgian data protection regulator, Commission for the Protection of Privacy, launched a complaint that Facebook indiscriminately tracked internet users when they visited Facebook pages or clicked Like or Share, even when they are not Facebook members. In November 2015, the Court of First Instance gave Facebook 48 hours to stop tracking internet users who do not have accounts with the social network or face fines of up to €250,000 per day. The court said Facebook tracked users via a cookie placed on their device that stayed in place for up to two years. Under Belgian privacy law, express user consent is required. Facebook argued that the cookie, which it calls "datr", was safe. In 2016, the Brussels Court of Appeals ruled in Facebook's favour. In February 2018, the Court of First Instance reinstated its earlier finding. 

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/10/belgian-court-orders-facebook-to-stop-tracking-non-members
https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/07/01/facebook-wins-appeal-cpp-warns-of-massive-violations-of-privacy/
https://gavclaw.com/2018/05/07/one-of-those-groundhog-days-the-brussels-court-of-first-instance-on-facebook-privacy-belgium-and-jurisdiction/

tags: Facebook, cookies, Belgium, court cases, tracking
Writer: Agence France-Presse, Lisa Vaas, Geert van Calster
Publication: Guardian, Naked Security, GAVC Law