Meta falls in line : It was either Comply or Quit

 

 

 

Context :

Meta to Ask EU Users' Consent to Share Data for Targeted Ads  … VOAnews  /  01 Aug 2023

Extract :

Social media giant Meta on Tuesday said it intends to ask European Union-based users to give their consent before allowing targeted advertising on its networks including Facebook, bowing to pressure from European regulators.

It said the changes were to address "evolving and emerging regulatory requirements" amid a bruising tussle with the Irish Data Protection Commission that oversees EU data rules in Ireland, out of which Meta runs its European operations.

European regulators in January had dismissed the previous legal basis — "legitimate interest" — Meta had used to justify gathering users' personal data for targeted advertising.

Currently, users joining Facebook and Instagram by default have that permission turned on, feeding their data to Meta so it can generate billions of dollars from such ads.

"Today, we are announcing our intention to change the legal basis that we use to process certain data for behavioral advertising for people in the EU, EEA [European Economic Area] and Switzerland from 'Legitimate Interests' to 'Consent'," Meta said in a blog post.

Meta added it will share more information in the months ahead as it continues to "constructively engage" with regulators.

"There is no immediate impact to our services in the region. Once this change is in place, advertisers will still be able to run personalized advertising campaigns to reach potential customers and grow their businesses," it said.

Meta and other U.S. Big Tech companies have been hit by massive fines over their business practices in the EU in recent years and have been impacted by the need to comply with the bloc's strict data privacy regulations.

Further effects are expected from the EU's landmark Digital Markets Act, which bans anti-competitive behavior by the so-called " gatekeepers " of the internet.

 

My  Take :

 

It is only a matter of a few months before EU forces META ( and its tribe – Google – Twitter etc ) to agree to :

Ø  Move from vague “ Consent “ to  “ Informed Consent “

Ø  Move from “ Informed Consent “ to “ Specific Consent “

Ø  Move from “ Specific Consent “ to “ Compensating Consent “

To know what I mean by “ Specific Consent “ and “ Compensating Consent “ , read :

 Only Answer : a Statutory Warning  ……………………………………………[ 10 Nov 2018 ]

  SARAL ( Single  Authentic  Registration for Anywhere  Login )….[ 10 Feb 2019 ]

  Digital Dividend from Demographic Data [ 4 D ]………… …………….[ 14 Feb 2019 ]

  Privacy for Sale  ………………………………………………………………………….[ 26 Aug 2017]

  If DEPA = Foundation , then SARAL = Superstructure ………………[ 08 May 2022 ]

 

And when this inevitable “ Migration to Monetization “ of users’ Personal Data happens, each and every  user of Social Media in EU , will earn Euro 1,000 PER MONTH , from social media by way of COMPENSATION for selling their data for TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS

What makes me believe that this will happen ?

#   My firm conviction that the Social Media companies must share a portion of

     their billions of dollars ( which  they are earning by SELLING personal data of

     their Users to Advertising Companies ) with the users

     

#   Finland has already taken the first step in implementing what I have been

     pleading with our Cabinet Ministers for past 5 YEARS , through some 111

       emails !

     

     If in doubt, read this :

Ø  Finland adopts “ SARAL “ ?  ……………. 31  May  2023

 

It makes me frustrated that the Software Superpower ( - and the 5^th largest

economy of the World ) India could not ( or , would not ? ) implement what

tiny Finland could do

 

And it makes me sad that , IT Minister Shri Vaishnawji will , tomorrow , introduce

in Lok Sabha :

IT Minister to present Digital Personal Data Protection Bill tomorrow … Ind Express  / 02 Aug 2023

 

Extract :

Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw will introduce Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill in Lok Sabha on Thursday, according to an official notification by Parliament.

The Parliamentary panel on IT has recommended that the DPDP Bill’s enactment be expedited, “without any undue delay”, as it relied on submissions made by officials of the IT Ministry, without the Bill being formally referred to it.

 

“Ashwini Vaishnaw to move for leave to introduce a Bill to provide for the processing of digital personal data in a manner that recognises both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such data for lawful purposes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Also to introduce the Bill,” said the list of business uploaded by the Lok Sabha.

 

Dear Vaishnawji ,

 

It is a pity that the bill being presented by you tomorrow will :

Ø  Only protect those “ PERSONAL  DATA  THIEVES “ , who mint billions by SELLING user data

Ø  Will do nothing to to protect “ PERSONAL DATA OWNERS “

Do you really believe that :

#   A User will ever come to know that her Personal Data ( even if aggregated and

     anonymised ), got SOLD by Google – Facebook – Twitter – Amazon etc to

     advertisers - Which ? When ? Where ? For What price ?

    

#   In the “ nearly impossible event “ of this user coming to know of such SALE of

     her data, she would have the money ( $ 10 million ) and  time (10 years )

     to fight her case ( in which court ? International Court of Justice ? )

     

     

 

Dear Shri Vaishnawji ,

 

I realize that , at this late stage , you cannot make any changes in the draft of

DPDP bill

But surely, you must have heard that, nearly 81 years ago, on 9^th Aug 1942,

Mahatmaji told the British from Gowalia Tank in Mumbai :

QUIT  INDIA

 

And, unlike EU , Bapu did not even have any LAW to support his call !

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  02 Aug 2023