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Court again rules in favor of Bits of Freedom: freedom of choice for Instagram and Facebook users remains intact
Today, the court ruled on Meta’s appeal against an earlier ruling in a lawsuit brought by Bits of Freedom. The Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the digital human rights organization. This is good news for Facebook and Instagram users: the freedom of choice they have been given over the information on their feed will remain intact.
Where do we stand in our legal fight for your choice of freedom in Meta’s apps?
Since the beginning of this year, most Facebook and Instagram users in the Netherlands have been able to choose between two feeds. Do you want the feed curated by Meta, based on the profile they have built on you, or do you want to see posts from the accounts you follow in chronological order? This choice is a direct result of our lawsuit against Meta – which we won!
Meta’s users know best what information they want to receive
Our lawsuit against Meta is keeping us very busy. Evelyn wrote the following piece, which previously appeared as a foreword in our monthly English newsletter.
Judge grants Meta limited postponement in Bits of Freedom lawsuit
In early October, digital human rights organization Bits of Freedom sued Meta. The organization demanded that Meta gives its users on apps, such as Instagram and Facebook, the option to select a feed that is not based on profiling. The judge ruled in favor of Bits of Freedom and ordered Meta to modify its apps within two weeks. Meta claimed that this was impossible and asked the Amsterdam Court of Appeal for a postponement. The court has now ruled that Meta will indeed be granted such a postponement.
Meta fails to comply with court order, evades accountability
Meta is ignoring a court order requiring Meta to make its non-profiling feed directly and easily accessible. According to the digital human rights organization Bits of Freedom, this is yet another example of Meta avoiding its social responsibility.
Judge in the Bits of Freedom vs. Meta lawsuit: Meta must respect users’ choice
Today, the judge issued a ruling in the summary proceedings brought by digital human rights organization Bits of Freedom against Meta. The organization demanded that Meta gives its users, on apps such as Instagram and Facebook, the option to select a feed that is not based on profiling.
Update in our case against Meta: verdict follows October 2nd
Today is the day! No, today was the day. Last week, we reported that we expect the verdict in our case against Meta today. This has now been postponed to October 2. We are still waiting eagerly.
Support for our case against Meta from EU DisinfoLab
We initiated summary proceedings against Meta. We’re demanding that Meta offer users of Instagram and Facebook the option to choose a feed that is not based on profiling. In a statement of support, EU DisinfoLab writes: “With the imminent legislative elections in the Netherlands, it is legally possible and politically necessary for the Dutch courts to rule on this self-evident breach of the law.
Support for our case against Meta from Electronic Frontier Foundation
We initiated summary proceedings against Meta. We’re demanding that Meta offer users of Instagram and Facebook the option to choose a feed that is not based on profiling. In a statement of support, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) writes: “It is essential to give serious consideration to the case and to the pressing importance of addressing the harmful design practices employed by Meta.”
Support for our case against Meta from Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe
We initiated summary proceedings against Meta. We’re demanding that Meta offer users of Instagram and Facebook the option to choose a feed that is not based on profiling. In a statement of support, Centre for Democracy & Technology (CDT) Europe highlights how civil society can and needs to hold Big Tech to account.
Support for our case against Meta from AI Forensics
We initiated summary proceedings against Meta. We’re demanding that Meta offer users of Instagram and Facebook the option to choose a feed that is not based on profiling. In a statement of support, AI Forensics writes: “We consider this crucial for establishing online spaces in which users have control over their information environment, especially in politically sensitive times.”
Support for our case against Meta from ARTICLE 19
We initiated summary proceedings against Meta. We’re demanding that Meta offer users of Instagram and Facebook the option to choose a feed that is not based on profiling. In a statement of support, ARTICLE 19 writes: “We hope the Dutch court will use its power to act against Meta.”
European member states continue attempt to undermine encryption
In Europa wordt weer onderhandeld over een wetsvoorstel dat de vertrouwelijkheid van communicatie op het spel zet. Hier is een update.
The risk of a data breach is always there
It was impossible to ignore in the Netherlands in recent weeks: the data breach at Clinical Diagnostics, the laboratory that processes cervical cancer tests for the Dutch National Screening Program (Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland). Where did the Program fall short?
Civil society’s dependence on Big Tech
From our day-to-day operations to our donor databases and volunteer coordination, European civil society is disastrously dependent on U.S. tech services. This makes us, the work we do and the people we do it with, vulnerable. High time for an exit strategy.