Facebook wins court battle against German privacy watchdog February 15, 2013 - 16:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Facebook has won a court battle against a German privacy watchdog that challenged the social networking site's policy requiring users to register with their real names, The Associated Press reports. Schleswig-Holstein state's data protection body said Friday, Feb 15, it will appeal the court decision. It argues the ban on fake names breaches German privacy laws and European rules designed to protect free speech online. The administrative court in northern German Schleswig argued in its ruling Thursday that German privacy laws weren't applicable because Facebook has its European headquarters in Ireland — which has less far-reaching rules. The California-based company argues its real name policy protects users. Germany's strict privacy rules have posed a legal headache for Facebook, Google and others in recent years, giving consumers significant rights to limit the way companies use their information. Partner news  Top stories Microsoft revealed last week that it received 6-7,000 requests implicating 31-32,000 accounts in the last six months. It is believed that Fisa requests typically seek much more information. But it remains unclear how broad the Fisa orders might be. The acquisitions are the latest in a string under Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, who is rebuilding the company on the fly. By mid-July, users will get to apply for IDs of their choice, and will find out which one they have got by mid-August.   Partner news |  Latest news Ryan Gosling crime drama “Only God Forgives” wins Sydney Film Prize  The violent film, which also stars Kristin Scott Thomas, has divided critics since its debut at the Cannes Film Festival last month.200,000 Brazilians take to streets in protest march A swelling wave of protest tapped into widespread anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption.David Thewlis joins Edgar Allen Poe story-based “Eliza Graves” The thriller follows a young doctor who comes to apprentice at a mental institution and meets a beautiful patient that he falls in love with.Lionsgate nabs screen rights to “Devil In The Grove” Pulitzer winner Adam Cooper & Bill Collage, whose Moses script Exodus will be the next film that Ridley Scott will direct, will write the script. |
