Facebook has 48 hours to stop processing and tracking the online activities of Belgian internet users who have not signed up to its website, a court ruled on Monday, threatening the social media giant with a 250,000-euro (269,000-dollar) daily fine otherwise, dpa reported. Belgium's Privacy Commission had sued Facebook, alleging that the US company processes and monitors not only its users' personal data, but also tracks non-members' online habits without consent, through cookies targeting anyone who opens its website. The privacy authority had pushed for a daily fine of 250,000 euros. The Brussels civil court, which was handling the case, met that request on Monday, according to the Belga news agency. "Facebook can only use this data if the user has given his authorization, without ambiguity, in line with the Belgian law on the protection of private life," judge Anouk Devenyns was quoted by Belga as saying. "If the internet user has a Facebook account himself, one can deduce from this that he has given authorization. But if the surfer has no account, then Facebook must specifically request authorization first and provide the necessary explanations," Devenyns added. Facebook said it would appeal the decision, adding that the company was working to limit "possible disturbances to accessing Facebook in Belgium." It had been using the cookie in question for more than five years to protect its 1.5 billion users worldwide, the company said. The company had argued during the court case that the so-called datr-cookie was necessary to protect against cybercriminals and malware attacks, as well as attempts to set up false accounts or steal private data. Its lawyers had also argued that the commission and Belgian courts have no jurisdiction because the company's European headquarters are located in Ireland.
