noyb.eu filed complaints over “forced consent” against Google, Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook

Forced Consent & Consent Bypass Privacy à la “take it or leave it”? The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into force today at midnight is supposed to give users a free choice, whether they agree to data usage or not. The opposite feeling spread on the screens of many users: tons of “consent boxes” popped up online or in applications, often combined with a threat that the service can no longer be used if users do not consent. On the first day of GDPR noyb.eu has therefore filed four complaints against Google (Android), Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram over “forced consent”. Original Complaints, as filed: Google LLC (Android), filed with the French DPA (CNIL) Instagram (Facebook Ireland Ltd), filed with the Belgian DPA (CPP) WhatsApp Ireland Ltd, filed with the Hamburg DPA (HmbBfDI) Facebook Ireland Ltd, filed with the Austrian DPA (DSB) Overview of the complaints. Very similar complaints were field with four authorities, to enable European coordination. In add