Meta Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Data Privacy in Germany

Consumer advocates in Germany have launched a class action lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging unlawful data collection practices. The lawsuit, which has been filed at the Hamburg Higher Regional Court, is spearheaded by the Austrian Consumer Protection Association (VSV) and is represented by Berlin-based attorney Max Baumeister.

The lawsuit is open to users of Meta's platforms in Germany, with the VSV seeking damages of EUR5,000 for adult users and EUR10,000 for minors. Additionally, the lawsuit demands that Meta halt its data collection activities, delete existing user data, and provide transparency regarding its data handling practices.

According to the VSV, the lawsuit targets hidden Meta programs that allegedly track user activities across thousands of websites and applications. These practices reportedly grant Meta access to sensitive personal information relating to users' health, religion, and sexuality. Baumeister emphasized that every user action, including clicks, search queries, and purchases, can be traced back to individual users with over 99% accuracy. He characterized the entire system as fundamentally illegal.

In response to the allegations, Meta has strongly denied the claims, asserting that they are unfounded and that the company will vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit.

Over the past few years, Baumeister's law firm has filed numerous individual lawsuits against Meta's data practices in various German courts. Approximately half of these cases have been dismissed, while the other half have ruled in favor of users, although these decisions are not yet final due to appeals filed by Meta.

With this new class action lawsuit, both the VSV and Baumeister anticipate a protracted legal battle ahead.