Support for our case against Meta from Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe

The legal battle against Meta intensifies as the Centre for Democracy & Technology (CDT) Europe throws its weight behind a case challenging the company’s data practices on Instagram and Facebook. This development underscores growing concerns within Europe regarding the power of large tech platforms and their impact on fundamental rights, especially regarding user profiling. The lawsuit aims to force Meta to offer users feed options free from algorithmic personalization. The core of the legal challenge, supported by CDT Europe, focuses on the lack of user choice and the dominance of algorithmically-driven content feeds. The organization Bits of Freedom brought forward the case seeking to compel Meta to provide users with alternative feed options that do not rely on the profiling of their data. This would permit users to access content without being subjected to behavioral advertising and data harvesting techniques that have raised privacy concerns. This legal action has significant implications for European citizens and businesses that rely on these platforms. It highlights the ongoing debate around digital sovereignty and the need for robust enforcement of data protection regulations, like GDPR. Such a ruling could reshape how social media platforms operate within the EU, bolstering user control and reducing the influence of personalized algorithms. This case follows other recent actions against Big Tech within the EU and demonstrates the growing awareness and effort to provide users more control over their data. The outcome will likely influence ongoing discussions about the Digital Services Act and the future of the digital landscape in Europe, potentially paving the way for stronger consumer protections.