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FACEBOOK IS CONCERNED that a proposal to ban junk food ads aimed at children will impact the marketing of sports events and Spotify playlists.
The social media giant outlined its concerns in an email to Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan following a meeting with the TD last December.
In November 2018, O’Callaghan proposed an amendment to section 30 of the Data Protection Act to protect children from ads related to junk food and drinks.
The proposed bill, which is currently before the Seanad for debate, aims to address the concerns of the Attorney General that section 30 was not in line with the the EU’s strict data protection rules know as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
O’Callaghan’s bill also aims to take on board the advice of the European Commission on balancing fundamental rights of the child with the fact that direct marketing is permitted under GDPR.
In correspondence seen by Fora, Facebook described the proposed bill as “very far-reaching” and said the wording of the amendment could entangle advertisements unrelated to junk food and drink.
The social network claimed the new bill could affect “positive marketing activities” aimed at children under the age of 18, such as advertisements for sports team events, sporting equipment, educational courses and campaigns promoting the likes of university open days.
The company also said Spotify and iTunes suggested playlists, news websites and health apps that rely on certain location data to profile customers could also be affected.
In the correspondence, Facebook said: “We are not opposed to regulation, particularly where its aim is to protect children”.
“While we understand that the legislative intention behind the proposed section 30 is to target the marketing of junk foods and drinks at children, there is no such limitation contained in the proposal itself,” it said.
As currently drafted the proposed section 30… would prohibit a range of data processing activities that involve an element of ‘automated processing’ of children’s personal data, regardless of any harm threshold.
The company stated that it has already taken steps to prohibit the targeting of ads for products and services such as “alcohol, gambling, dating or ‘health’ (e.g. diet) products” to children who use Facebook.
Speaking to Fora, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman Jim O’ Callaghan said Facebook is entitled to oppose the amendment.
“My objective, however, is to introduce legislation that will be for the public benefit and that will tackle the ever increasing problem of childhood obesity,” he said.
Facebook declined to comment when contacted by Fora.
Note: This article was amended to reflect the fact that Facebook declined to comment on the matter.
Written by Laura Roddy and originally posted on Fora.ie.
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Just protect children from Facebook.
It does nothing but warp your brain,
@Liberal_Ireland:
Facebook is the most useless invention of the 21st century.
@Liberal_Ireland: Protect the children from Facebook?! Sorry, but that’s your responsibility as a parent.
@Oliver Mueller: actually, very few children under sixteen use Facebook…
Have you ever heard such drivel. Facebook needs to be banned full-stop. It’s the biggest threat to Society in decades. Children as young as 7 or 8 are on it. Kids are only concerned about what’s on Facebook. Jesus what happened to the values we had in Ireland. We were all out playing when we were kids
@Honey Badger: *Old man shouts at cloud*
@Inanimate Carbon Rod: Given this rubbish weather we’ve been having I’d say he’s definitely lost his voice by now.
@Honey Badger: I agree with you. I’d be more concerned with children’s use of the image-obsessed Instagram more so though. Instagram is ranked the worst for young people’s mental health. With more focus on mental health these days, there’s not enough being done to warn young people of the correlation between social media and anxiety/depression.
@Honey Badger: younger people have left Facebook in droves. They’re onInstagram no.
@Honey Badger: younger people have left Facebook in droves. They’re onInstagram now
We are only concerned about making as much money as possible, pheck your kids!
@John Murray:
So?
Christ, it’d be just awful if a Spotify playlist was somehow effected
That’s Fatboy Slim off my Spotify playlist so…
@William Tallon: and M and Ms or is it Eminem, I always get them divils mixed up
@Boris Becker: Sweet…
Facebook should be broken up or shut down. Menace to society it is.
Is this their latest lame excuse. Waterford whisperer stuff this
Slowly and surely your human rights are being sneakily taken away, n disguise as safety and keeping our kids safe, people are easily fooled and just needs to take more responsibility, not take away ur right to free speech
It’s going a bit far now,Trying to ban nearly every single ads for alcohol and cigarettes, even non alcohol drinks are been banned from advertising near schools, what next? If you are looking for Social Media Marketing, Visit: dublinseocompany.com
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