The implementation of the new GDPRfor the protection of personal data began on May 25, 2018, and from the first day there were sanctions for some companies.
Specifically, lawsuits worth several billion dollars were filed against Facebook and Googlefor the improper use of their users' personal data.
An Austrian lawyer, Max Schrems, has taken on the lawsuits on behalf of anonymous users affected by services such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Google's Android operating system. The lawsuits total about $8.8 billion.
The two companies are allegedly violating GDPR rules by forcing their users to agree to share their personal data, even going so far as to block the accounts of users who refuse to agree.
“The fact that users had the final choice to delete their account or press the ‘I agree’ button does not mean that they were free to decide, the process is more reminiscent of elections in North Korea!” Schrems told TechCrunch.
GDPR requires explicit consent from users and justification from companies collecting their personal data. So both Facebook and Google have changed their policies to comply with the new data protection laws, but the complaints filed by Shcrems claim that these changes are not enough.
In response to the lawsuits, both companies claimed they had taken appropriate steps to meet GDPR requirements. In a statement to the BBC, Google said: “We have built privacy and security into our products from the ground up and are committed to complying with the General Data Protection Regulation.”.
Facebook provided its own response, saying: “We have been preparing for the last 18 months to ensure we meet the requirements of the GDPR” and “we have introduced better tools for our users to access, download and delete their information.”.
