Facebook, Google and Microsoft push users away from privacy-friendly options on their services in an unethical way, according to a report by the Norwegian Consumer Council. It studied the privacy settings of the firms and found a series of dark patterns, including intrusive default settings and misleading wording.
Popular messaging service Whatsapp is banning under-16s from using its platform in the European Union. Users must currently be at least 13, but the firm is changing the rules ahead of the introduction of new EU data privacy regulations in May.
Facebook has changed its terms of service, meaning 1.5 billion members will not be protected under tough new privacy protections coming to Europe. The move comes as the firm faces a series of questions from lawmakers and regulators around the world over its handling of personal data.
Facebook has begun asking users in the UK to allow the platform to use facial recognition technology to identify them in photos and videos. The technology has been used in most parts of the world for six years, but was initially removed in the EU in 2012 following protests from regulators and privacy advocates.