EU could block Facebook from reading users' private messages

Social media companies such as Facebook face further tough European Union privacy regulations that would block them from reading private messages sent between users.

New regulations supporting the recently imposed new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe, are currently being debated by the EU and would further protect citizens’ privacy from internet companies.

The ‘e-privacy’ rules have been delayed due to disagreements in Brussels, but are set to go into force this year, reported The Telegraph.

The new regulations generated controversy and have already been criticised by 57 technology and internet groups that sent a letter to the European Council warning of a considerable negative impact. They also warned the impact would extend to other sectors of EU digital economy.

According to the letter, the regulations are overly strict and would prevent legitimate data processing.

Specifically, social media firms like Skype, Apple iMessage and Facebook would be unable to scan the content of private messages as they do now. Facebook carries out such practices to determine if users break any rules but until recently it also monitored its users' activity to track specific advertisements for them.

Apple is already one step ahead and announced in its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday 4 June that it would be doubling down on security and privacy.

The iPhone maker already limited retargeting of ads last year and will limit the data tech giants can collect from their devices. It will also warn its users with notifications of how their data is being shared across the web.