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Facebook warns that it could withdraw from Europe if the Irish data protection commissioner prohibits the transfer of data to and from the United States.
The social media giant’s move comes after a ruling by the European Union Court of Justice in July, which found that Facebook was unable to provide sufficient guarantees to dispel suspicions of espionage by US government agencies.
Such a ban would block Facebook activity, said the representative of the company owned by Mark Zuckerberg of Ireland, in a lawsuit filed in court.
“If the company suspended the transfer of user data to the United States, it is unclear how Facebook and Instagram could continue to operate in the EU under these conditions.” Yvonne Cunnane said, according to The Guardian.
However, it is not a threat of withdrawal from Europe, but a simple reflection of reality, a spokesman for the US company said at the time.
“Facebook does not threaten to withdraw from Europe”, said a spokesperson.
“The submissions to the High Court of Ireland have demonstrated the simple reality that Facebook and many other companies, organizations and services depend on data transfers between the EU and the US for services to users. The lack of safe and legal international data transfers would affect the economy and hamper the growth of EU businesses, just as we are all trying to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. “ said the Facebook representative.
The scandal started with Prism
The court battle began in 2011, when an Austrian lawyer, Max Schrems, filed several confidentiality complaints with the Irish Data Protection Commissioner. Regulates the activity of companies like Facebook in the EU.
The scandal erupted with revelations in the British press about the Prism program of the NSA (National Security Agency) in the US, a huge online surveillance operation through which the US government had direct access to Google systems. , Facebook, Apple and other US internet companies. .
The trial even went to the Court of Justice of the European Communities.
In September, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner enforced the decision. The commissioner issued a preliminary order forcing the social network to suspend data transfers abroad.
