Facebook wins German court fight on fake names ban
BERLIN (AP) - Facebook has won a court battle against a German privacy watchdog that challenged the social networking site's policy requiring users to register with their real names.
Schleswig-Holstein state's data protection body said Friday it will appeal the court decision. It argues the ban on fake names breaches German privacy laws and European rules designed to protect free speech online.
The administrative court in northern German Schleswig argued in its ruling Thursday that German privacy laws weren't applicable because Facebook has its European headquarters in Ireland - which has less far-reaching rules.
The California-based company argues its real name policy protects users.
Germany's strict privacy rules have posed a legal headache for Facebook, Google and others in recent years, giving consumers significant rights to limit the way companies use their information.
Schleswig-Holstein state's data protection body said Friday it will appeal the court decision. It argues the ban on fake names breaches German privacy laws and European rules designed to protect free speech online.
The administrative court in northern German Schleswig argued in its ruling Thursday that German privacy laws weren't applicable because Facebook has its European headquarters in Ireland - which has less far-reaching rules.
The California-based company argues its real name policy protects users.
Germany's strict privacy rules have posed a legal headache for Facebook, Google and others in recent years, giving consumers significant rights to limit the way companies use their information.
Facebook would lose to many users if real names are required
So why doesn't the country block facebook? They own the data pipe just block the website. I dont agree with companies setting up in other countries so they can skirt the laws of any country they want.
@mikeÂ
Blocking Facebook is problematic technologically speaking.Â
If it were easy, you would not see anyone Chinese on it, and you do. It all twists on the effort you want to put in. The more IPS you block, the more URLs you scrub and the more content you filter the fewer people can get access, but you won't stop everyone. Â
The one thing consitant with the curretn internet is that is allows companies to do what they want "where" they want as long as "where" is on their own site (country dependant).Â
As better idea (and cheaper) would be for Germany to announce and implement a policy of preventing people from wanting to be on Facebook in the form of scary advertisments and emotional pleas.Â
That would work better and hurt Facebook more.Â