In a recent article, Facebook lost a EU lawsuit surrounding their desire to combine data across all their owned platforms. Privacy experts seem to be drawing a line in the sand with how much data is too much data. While I believe that effort is futile at this juncture, lawyers and courts can make it difficult for Facebook to achieve their version of world domination. However, the best part about the appeal Facebook is making is their headline appeal to judges and to consumers. I’ll paraphrase, but it goes something like this: “We can protect you from terrorism and child abuse if only you give us all your data.” Nobody ever said Facebook wasn’t a savvy marketer. Who doesn’t want to be protected from terrorism and child abuse?!? Question is whether the court of public opinion will be able to influence the judicial proceedings.
