Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN

Re:Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN by Gioni06 on Tuesday January 29, 2019 @08:29PM (#19031739)

I'm not a law expert, but IMO FB should seriously lawyer up. I can say that this kind of misconduct would almost certainly end up in court in Germany. A 13 years old consent with a cryptic data protection policy is not legally binding and luring kids in need of protection with money to give up fundamental rights can be viewed as an act of non-physical abuse.

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Re:Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN by anonymous5133 on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @02:03AM (#19033257)

I have this app installed on my phone. When you sign up you purposefully have to get consent from an adult to sign up as a minor.

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Re:Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN by bencollier49 on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @02:33AM (#19033351)

I'm not sure that works in law. A 13-year-old could click "consent" and not make a contract with FB.

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Re:Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN by Gioni06 on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @02:36AM (#19033362)

I agree. That can also be called "common law" in Germany. Contracts with people who are not entitled to sign contracts on their behalf are not considered legally binding.

In that sense, it shall be treated as if there hasn't been a contract at all. The process is purposefully designed to get a signed contract as fast as possible. The technology to make proper ID (Age) verification is available, but my understanding is, that it is not used by facebook and its partners.

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Re:Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN by morpheuskafka on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @10:53AM (#19036055)

COPPA doesn't require foolproof age verification IIRC, otherwise the regular Facebook app and nearly every app on the planet that just asks for a birth data with no verification would be illegal.

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Re:Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN by Gioni06 on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @11:46AM (#19036670)

That is 100% true. It's a regulatory issue that politics could address. Having no proper age verification is not illegal.

I mixed two points here. Contracts that contradict the law and my wish for better regulations.

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Re:Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN by bencollier49 on Thursday January 31, 2019 @02:11AM (#19043041)

Which I suppose is fine if this app was only installed in the US. Was it?

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Re:Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN by inetknght on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @12:13AM (#19032873)

All words and rhetoric unless and until someone makes a complaint to the regulatory agency.

I'm merely in the US; I'm not sure what agency would even protect my own friends and family from clear abuse.

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Re:Facebook has been paying people to install a “Research” VPN by iGoog on Wednesday January 30, 2019 @04:37AM (#19033783)

If you believe Facebook to have violated the law in your state, you can write your Attorney General and ask them to enforce the law or explain how Facebook is not in violation of the law.

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