Spain’s Data Watchdog Blocks Meta’s Election Tools on Facebook and Instagram
Spain’s data watchdog, AEPD, has halted Meta’s election tools on Instagram and Facebook over GDPR concerns. On the other hand, Meta has vowed compliance despite disagreement. Learn more about it here.
- In a decisive move, Spain’s data protection authority (AEPD) has provisionally suspended Meta’s new election tools, “Election Day Information” (EDI) and “Voter Information Unit” (VIU), on Instagram and Facebook.
- The AEPD flagged potential violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), highlighting data lawfulness, minimization, and retention issues, forcing Meta to halt its plans ahead of the upcoming European elections.
Spain’s data protection watchdog, the AEPD, has ordered the provisional suspension of Meta’s planned election tools, “Election Day Information” (EDI) and “Voter Information Unit” (VIU), designed for Instagram and Facebook. These tools aimed to remind users across the European Union to vote in the upcoming elections. However, the AEPD raised concerns about the tools potentially violating GDPR, particularly in areas concerning the principles of data lawfulness, minimization, and retention period.
Meta’s proposed strategy for data processing involved using users’ profile details, such as the city where they live and their IP addresses, to identify potential voters. The AEPD condemned this in policy terms as “pointless, out of proportion and overpowered.” It was also pointed out that this method could overlook EU citizens abroad and unfairly focus on non-EU foreigners living in Europe. Also, the regulator queried why an exercise should seek to collect and validate internet users’ ages, noting that there is no universally acceptable methodology for validating self-reported ages. Additionally, regarding disseminating election news information, the AEPD found that data treatment was “absolutely disproportionate.”
See more: EU Watchdog Enforces Accountability for AI Use in Banking
Meta responded by asserting that its election tools were designed to respect users’ privacy and comply with GDPR. Despite disagreeing with the AEPD’s assessment, Meta expressed willingness to cooperate with the watchdog’s request. The AEPD’s decision underscores the importance of stringent data protection measures, especially in political engagement and electoral processes. Meta’s inability to justify the post-election storage of data further compounded the watchdog’s concerns, revealing potential ulterior motives behind the data processing operation.
As a result, Spain’s AEPD’s suspension of Meta’s election tools emphasizes the ongoing tension between data privacy regulations and tech companies’ operational strategies. As the European elections approach, this move highlights the critical role of regulatory bodies in safeguarding user data and upholding GDPR standards.
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