Facebook sued by 25,000 people over EU privacy 'violations'

Facebook is facing a class action involving 25,000 users. Credit: Reuters

Facebook will be sued by 25,000 people in a class action lawsuit beginning today over alleged privacy violations.

The action, which will be heard in Vienna, alleges the website tracks users' data in a way which is illegal under EU law.

It makes further claims relating to Facebook's alleged participation with surveillance schemes run by the US National Security Agency (NSA), with which Facebook has denied any involvement.

Max Schrems, the Austrian campaigner leading the case, told the AFP news agency he hopes it will eventually lead to the end of what he calls a "Wild West" approach to data protection by major online companies.

The landmark case will ask judges to rule on a number of issues, including whether Facebook broke EU law in the following areas:

  • Facebook's data use policy

  • Alleged involvement with the NSA 'PRISM' spy programme

  • Tracking of users on external pages through social plug-ins

  • The introduction of its Graph Search function

  • Data sharing with external apps

  • How Facebook 'likes' and removed tags, friends or messages are recorded

Each of the 25,000 participants in the action is claiming a "token" 500 euros (£360) in damages, and Schrems, a law graduate, told AFP the case is not about money but "the principle that fundamental rights have to be applied".

The case is brought against Facebook's European headquarters in Dublin, but can be heard in Austria as EU law dictates that all member states must enforce court rulings from any other member state.

Today's hearing is likely to assess the tech company's claim that the case should not be heard in Vienna.

Facebook was not immediately available for comment on the case, and has yet to comment publicly on the case.