The Dutch government is considering completely banning social network Facebook due to serious concerns about how the platform ensures user data security.
According to Telegraaf newspaper, negotiations on this topic between government representatives and Facebook does not bring the desired results. Authorities are trying to take the first steps to prepare to ‘ban’ Facebook.
Facebook faces the risk of being ‘banned’ in the Netherlands due to user data security issues
Dutch Foreign Minister Alexandra van Hoeffelen stated: “In 2017, the Dutch Data Protection Authority found that Facebook violated privacy laws in two areas – user notification and sensitive data processing. Meta (Facebook’s parent company) subsequently made adjustments, but this did not resolve the issue.
The Dutch government has been concerned about Facebook’s handling of sensitive data for years, and more and more questions are being raised on the subject.
Therefore, the Dutch Cabinet Office has consulted with the Data Protection Authority about the safety of continuing to allow Facebook to operate in the Netherlands. A decision will be made soon after receiving consultation from competent authorities.
Previously, in May 2023, the Irish Data Protection Commission fined Meta 1.2 billion euros for “not adequately protecting the personal data of European Union users”. The Irish regulator noted that, by transferring data between Europe and the US, Meta “failed to take heed of the risks to the fundamental rights and freedoms” of its users, despite the Court’s Europe has warned Meta about the need to strengthen information protection measures.
At the same time, Ireland also punished Facebook, requiring a fine of 746 million euros due to “violating regulations on handling user information”.
(theo Telegraaf)
