EU Court Backs National Data Watchdog Powers in Blow to Facebook, Big Tech

EU Court Backs National Data Watchdog Powers in Blow to Facebook, Big Tech
Facebook logo in 3D in front of the EU flag, on May 15, 2015. Dado Ruvic/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

BRUSSELS—Europe’s top court on Tuesday endorsed the power of national data watchdogs to pursue big tech firms even if they are not their lead regulators, in a setback for Silicon Valley companies such as Facebook.

The European Court of Justice (CJEU) ruling could encourage national agencies to act against U.S. tech companies such as Google, Twitter, and Apple, which all have their European Union headquarters in Ireland.