Europe Steps Up Its Attack On Facebook

In Europe, a complete overhaul of the region's fractured digital market has prompted officials to take a closer look at big name tech firms' operations to ensure they meet the changing standards. Recent standard changes are being implemented on everything from anti-monopoly rules to privacy practices.

Probes into the operations at Google Inc GOOG GOOGL have already turned into a legal battle over whether or not the company is abiding by European laws, and it appears that Facebook Inc FB is heading down a similar path.

Privacy Questioned

On Monday, Belgium's privacy commission announced that it was suing Facebook for violating privacy laws.

The lawsuit came after a series of probes in several eurozone nations began looking into Facebook's privacy practices.

Related Link: RBC's Mark Mahaney: Facebook Will Be Biggest Beneficiary Of Mobile, Video Growth

Facebook Denies The Charges

Belgian regulators claim that Facebook's ability to track users on external websites should be called into question and believe the company's data collection practices are subpar.

However, Facebook shot back, saying the case was unfounded and arguing that the company should only have to appease Irish regulators, as that's where the company's European operations are headquartered.

The Beginning Of The End?

Eurozone policymakers recently approved a draft law uniting the region's divided Internet policies and taking the new digital market plans one step closer to completion. If the region moves forward with the overhaul, it will expose Internet firms to regulatory oversight from all 28 member states, something U.S. tech firms are fearing.

With so many watchdogs evaluating a company's every move, some say it will be impossible to operate smoothly. Others claim eurozone regulators are targeting U.S. firms in order to level the playing field for their own tech market, which has fallen significantly behind.