Facebook UK users will lose EU privacy protections in 2021. (JPI Media) Facebook will switch all United Kingdom account holders into user agreements with the firm s corporate headquarters in California, steering them clear of EU privacy laws. The current relationship with Facebook s Irish unit will end next year as the UK leaves the European Union (EU) at the end of the Brexit transition period. Facebook has said that the move will not change the privacy controls of UK users, or the services they are offered. Changes after Brexit UK users are currently governed by agreements with Facebook’s headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, but the legal relationship will change after the Brexit transition period comes to an end at the end of this year.
What you need to know
Facebook this week signaled its intent to move its British users to a user agreement based on US law after Brexit s completion.
The move is a clear attempt to avoid the EU s stringent privacy rules, which have already earned the company significant fines.
The company eventually plans to move all non-EU countries to the same user agreement and may even consider doing the same for EU users.
Facebook s struggles with privacy laws are well-documented, and the company is looking to circumvent the most stringent of these, namely EU s GDPR regulations, by moving its UK users to agreements with its US-based headquarters once Brexit is complete at the end of the year. UK users are currently covered by agreements with Facebook s international HQ, located in Ireland, and are thus protected by GDPR.
Facebook will shift UK users to California terms after Brexit
Leaving the EU means Facebook users in the UK will see changes in terms early next year. Listen - 01:34
The UK will enjoy fewer privacy protections when it has fully left the EU. Aytac Unal/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Facebook confirmed on Wednesday that users in the UK will shift over to the same user agreements the social network uses in California when the country parts way with the EU next year.
Facebook s current relationship with the UK, as with other EU countries, is managed through Ireland, where the company has its European headquarters. But as the country s legal relationship with the EU changes due to Brexit, so will its relationship with Facebook.
Facebook’s UK users to be overseen by firm’s US HQ after Brexit transition
PA
16 December 2020, 12:11 pm
Facebook’s US headquarters will take control of legal responsibilities for UK users from next year, shifting away from current EU-based user agreements as a result of Brexit.
UK users are currently overseen by Facebook Ireland as part of the EU but this will switch to Facebook Inc in California once the Brexit transition period is over.
EU-wide GDPR rules which require firms to protect people’s data and privacy are among the strictest in the world.
Facebook said it will follow UK GDPR from 2021 and there will be no change to the privacy controls or services it currently offers.
Facebook UK users will lose EU privacy protections in 2021. (JPI Media) Facebook will switch all United Kingdom account holders into user agreements with the firm s corporate headquarters in California, steering them clear of EU privacy laws. The current relationship with Facebook s Irish unit will end next year as the UK leaves the European Union (EU) at the end of the Brexit transition period. Facebook has said that the move will not change the privacy controls of UK users, or the services they are offered. Changes after Brexit UK users are currently governed by agreements with Facebook’s headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, but the legal relationship will change after the Brexit transition period comes to an end at the end of this year.