Does Pinterest violate EU privacy laws by auto-opting users into data sharing?

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Pinterest May Be Violating EU Privacy Laws by Auto-Opting Users into Data Sharing

Privacy campaigners have filed a complaint accusing Pinterest of secretly gathering personal data for targeted advertising, alleging that users are automatically opted-in to data sharing, which constitutes a breach of European Union privacy laws. The complaint, lodged in France by the Austrian-based group None Of Your Business (NOYB), highlights concerns that Pinterest tracks European users without explicit consent, thereby unlawfully profiting from their personal data.
Complaint Filed Over Automatic Data Sharing

The group None Of Your Business (NOYB) submitted a complaint on Tuesday in France, stemming from an issue raised by a French user of the platform. NOYB asserts that Pinterest's practice of automatically enrolling users into data sharing arrangements violates European Union privacy regulations. This alleged covert data collection is seen as a mechanism for the platform to gain financially from personal information without user awareness.
Allegations of Unlawful Profit and Consent Breach

NOYB stated that Pinterest is actively tracking European users without obtaining their consent. This practice, according to the privacy group, enables the social media platform to unlawfully profit from individuals' personal data without their knowledge. This approach is seen as a direct contravention of data protection principles that require informed consent for data processing.
Legal Basis for the Complaint

The complaint references a European Court of Justice ruling which established that a company's "legitimate interest" cannot be used as justification for collecting personal data specifically for targeted advertising purposes. NOYB argues that Pinterest appears to be disregarding this ruling in an effort to maximise profits, thereby continuing to collect data for advertising without adhering to legal constraints.
Demands for Regulatory Action

NOYB is requesting that France's data regulator, the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), take specific actions against Pinterest. These demands include imposing a fine on the company, compelling the erasure of user data that has been unlawfully collected, and ensuring Pinterest's full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

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Does Pinterest violate EU privacy laws by auto-opting users into data sharing?

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