EU Court Limits Meta's Data Use for Ads

The European Union's Court of Justice has ruled against Meta Platforms' use of personal data for targeted advertising, backing privacy activist Max Schrems. The court found that Facebook cannot process information about users' sexual orientation or retain personal data indefinitely for ad targeting, emphasizing the GDPR's data minimization principles. This ruling could significantly impact Meta's ad revenue in the EU, which accounts for about 10% of its global earnings. Meta has committed over €5 billion to privacy measures and maintains that users have control over their data settings. Schrems' actions have previously led to major legal challenges for Meta, including a $1.3 billion GDPR fine. The decision also extends to other social networks, mandating stringent data deletion practices.