Security News > 2021 > May > Ireland Rejects Facebook Bid to Block Regulatory Data Probe
Ireland's High Court on Friday rejected Facebook's bid to block an investigation that could potentially stop data transfers from the European Union to the United States.
The Irish regulator launched its inquiry last summer after a top EU court decision over Facebook invalidated a key online data arrangement between Europe and the US. "The DPC decided to commence an 'own volition' inquiry ... to consider whether the actions of Facebook Ireland Ltd in making transfers of personal data relating to individuals in the European Union/European Economic Area are lawful, and whether any corrective power should be exercised by the DPC in that regard," the court statement noted.
Schrems had forced the Irish regulator to try and block transatlantic data transfers in the wake of the EU judgement.
Facebook had objected to the DPC's inquiry, arguing that it had acted "Unlawfully" in starting the probe.
Schrems meanwhile speculated that such data transfers would be blocked potentially within months by the DPC. "Irish regulator gets green light for probe that could halt Facebook data," tweeted Schrems.
Under the landmark General Data Protection Regulation, which came into effect in 2018, social media users have a wider range of rights relating to their data.