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A comment on Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tracking. Parent comment

Re:Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tra... by icebraining on Wednesday May 09, 2018 @12:09PM (#17030967)
They aren't, though. There are other ways of making money. Like charging people. If people won't pay, well, worst things could befall the Union than Facebook leaving.
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Re:Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tra... by cortesoft on Wednesday May 09, 2018 @01:20PM (#17031710)
Why can't they charge you in data? If they present the deal to users as, "let us track your data, and in return you get to use facebook", is that not a trade that should be allowed? Isn't part of being able to 'be in control' of your data being allowed to sell it yourself?

I think the key point is being clear about the trade. I think FORCING all websites to only be paid for by cash is bad; you should be able to trade your own data for access to a service.

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Re:Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tra... by icebraining on Wednesday May 09, 2018 @01:39PM (#17031903)
Why can't they charge you in data?

Because "In the EU, personal information cannot be conceived as a mere economic asset: according to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the processing of personal data requires protection to ensure a person's enjoyment of the right to respect for private life and freedom of expression and association".

https://edps.europa.eu/sites/edp/files/publication/16-09-23_...

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Re:Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tra... by ars on Wednesday May 09, 2018 @01:11PM (#17031613)
So what you are saying is that the EU should tell Facebook they can not make money by having ads, instead they need to make money by charging people?

Is that typical, for the EU to get that involved in business decisions?

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Re:Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tra... by icebraining on Wednesday May 09, 2018 @01:43PM (#17031944)
Well, first, ads are not the problem, tracking is. Also, they can make money from tracking, but they have to convince people to consent - more like a donation than a payment.

But yes, the EU does get involved in plenty of business decisions, just like governments everywhere. Usually when an industry is misbehaving and violating what is established (e.g. by the ECHR) as the rights of individuals.

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Re:Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tra... by ars on Wednesday May 09, 2018 @03:32PM (#17033110)
> But yes, the EU does get involved in plenty of business decisions, just like governments everywhere.

Obviously. But that's not what I meant.

They did not say "tracking is illegal", they said "it's illegal if not necessary".

Are they then say: "It's not necessary because if you completely restructured your business you wouldn't need to track."

That's the part I meant - do they really go to that level of detail?

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Re:Facebook now denying access unless EU users opt-in to tra... by icebraining on Wednesday May 09, 2018 @04:43PM (#17033888)
Sorry, I don't really know, my knowledge of EU directives related to companies is sparse at best.
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