CJEU Rules Meta Must Limit Personal Data Use

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, must limit its use of personal data for targeted advertising, siding with activist Max Schrems. The court emphasized the principle of data minimization under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), stating that the company cannot use all data indefinitely or without distinction for advertising. This decision came after Schrems complained about being targeted with ads related to his sexual orientation, despite not disclosing this information on the platform. The ruling implies that only a small portion of Meta's extensive data pool can be utilized for ads, even with user consent. Meta maintains that it does not use sensitive data categories for targeted advertising, but the court's decision underscores the restrictions imposed by EU data protection laws. This case highlights ongoing legal scrutiny over how tech companies handle personal data and user privacy in Europe.