Facebook Under Fire In France For Using Data Of 30 Million Users Without Consent
PARIS (CBS/AP) -- Two agencies contend Facebook is breaching privacy laws in France by tracking and using the personal data of more than 30 million users there without their knowledge.
The independent privacy watchdog CNIL has given Menlo Park-based Facebook three months to comply with French data protection laws or risk sanctions. The government-linked General Direction for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control set a two-month limit.
CNIL said late Monday that Facebook collects data about account holders' "political or religious opinions" and "sexual orientation," without informing them. It said the social network also collects data of non-Facebook users' Internet browsing without their knowledge and uses the information for targeted advertising.
Facebook also took criticism for deleting user content without notice.
There was no immediate response to email queries to Facebook for comment.
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