THEY HAVE ON YOU
Earlier this month Belgium ordered Facebook to stop tracking internet users who have no accounts with the social network, or face fines of 250,000 euros ($ A390,000) a day.
The ruling came amid efforts by the European Union to force Facebook to comply with stringent new privacy rules that would threaten its ability to sell advertising based on targeted user information.
Now Australia has become the latest government to turn up the heat on the Zuckerbergs of the world.
The Federal Government has ordered the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ( ACCC) to investigate the big tech giants in what ACCC chairman Rod Sims said will be the broadest inquiry of its type in the world.
The ACCC’s inquiry will involve asking consumers how much they think the digital platforms know about them and comparing that to what is, in fact, being gathered.
“Some people have asserted that consumers know what’s going on and don’t care,” Mr Sims said last week. “I think it’s absolutely crucial we find out what consumers do know and then let’s see whether they care.
“My suspicion is Facebook and Google have much more personal information about people than people realise.”
The inquiry will be looking at whether Facebook, Google or others have misused their power in commercial dealings.