On May 25th, 2018, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) have been applied in all member states to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe.
Less than 24 hours after, already 4 complaints have been registered against Facebook and Google.
It’s Max Schrems, an Autrichian activist who is behind those complaints.
According to the Financial Times, Max Schrems lodge a complaint against Facebook, two against WhatsApp and Instagram, and one against Google, and the mobile OS Android.
The bill they will have to pay will be equivalent to 4% of their annual turnover. For companies such as Facebook or Google, the amount would be massive: $1.6B for Facebook and $4.4B for Google.
As the GDRP is just starting, nobody really knows how it will be applied, but, the first judgments will be followed closely!
Facebook and Google had 18 months to prepare for the GDRP.
« Over the past 18 months, we have taken steps to update our products, policies, and processes to provide users with meaningful transparency and control over all the services we provide in the EU, » Google said.