Netherlands Government Might Stop Facebook Usage Over Privacy Risks
A Dutch privacy regulator has advised governmental organizations to stop using Facebook due to privacy concerns. Learn more about the reasons behind the move and its implications for the social media giant.
- Netherlands’ Data Protection Authority has advised government bodies to stop using Facebook pages over user privacy concerns.
- The Dutch government has asked Meta to provide clarifications over its concerns about the platform’s use of personal data.
The government of the Netherlands has sent a warning to Meta Platforms stating that it is considering ditching Facebook following an advisory from the country’s data protection regulator over privacy concerns. The advisory has recommended that government bodies not use Facebook pages to communicate with citizens, owing to a lack of clarity about how the platform uses personal data.
Consequently, a Dutch government spokesperson, Alexandra van Huffelen, the Dutch Minister for Digitalization, has asked Meta to provide clarity before summer recess starts to solve the data regulator’s concerns. If the demands are not met, Facebook will likely no longer be used by government bodies in the country. Meanwhile, the government has asked the Data Protection Authority to look into ways Facebook could be used compliantly.
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The Dutch regulator has stated that it was unclear whether the data of citizens visiting a Facebook government page was safe. The body also expressed further concern as such data often involves children and other categories of vulnerable people. It is also a potential concern whether American government agencies could monitor information shared on Meta.
Meta has disputed the concerns, stating that the regulatory body’s advisory was misleading, the workings of platforms like Facebook were not properly understood, and all Meta products were compliant with regional laws. The incident is another example of the growing scrutiny of Big Tech platforms by governments in the EU.
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