Facebook takes out ads to tout new EU data protection law

BERLIN-Agence France-Presse

Facebook took out full-page ads in European newspapers April 16 to trumpet tough new EU legislation that promises “more data protection for you,” as the company seeks to win back trust following a damaging privacy scandal.

The new law, set to come into effect on May 25, aims to give users more control over how their personal information is stored and used online, with big fines for firms that break the rules.

“New EU legislation means more data protection for you,” the Silicon Valley giant said in the blue-and-white ad, which appeared in German dailies including Handelsblatt, Sueddeutsche Zeitung and the best-selling Bild.

It also appeared in Belgian newspapers, as well as in France’s Journal du dimanche (JDD) newspaper on April 15.

Ahead of the introduction of the European Union’s so-called General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Facebook said it would be asking users to check their privacy settings and tell the firm how “we may use your data.”

“You will also have the opportunity to access your data at any time, download it or delete it,” the ad went on.

Facebook admitted earlier this month that up to 87 million users may have had their data hijacked by British consultancy Cambridge Analytica, which worked for U.S. President Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who has repeatedly apologized for the massive data breach, last week told the U.S. Congress that the more stringent EU rules could serve as a rough model globally.

Brussels has welcomed the unexpected spotlight on its upcoming legislation.

“I was really desperate about thinking how to make the best possible campaign for GDPR so now this is well done, so thank you Mr Zuckerberg,” the EU’s justice and consumer affairs commissioner Vera Jourova said last week.

Under the new rules, companies will need explicit consent from users to share their data with third parties and people will have the right to know what information is stored about them and to ask for it to be deleted.

Breaches can lead to fines of up to four percent of a company’s global turnover.