The Wall Street Journal reports on moves by Facebook to counter at least five different privacy investigations by EU-based data protection authorities (DPAs). In particular, Facebook says a case brought by the Belgium Privacy Commission could affect the security of its users. The case, which could have a ruling as early as this week, would allow the DPA to fine Facebook as much as $284,000 per day due to its controversial use of cookies on non-Facebook sites, the report states. However, Facebook says the cookies help it weed out bots and other automated online machines. Facebook’s Alex Stamos said, “Often regulators will focus on a very, very particular issue and lose sight of the safety issues that affect all 1.5 billion users.” (Registration may be required to access this story.)
Full Story