The Secret Fight For Your Personal Information

Richard Kirkendall, CEO of Namecheap:

Is Facebook using US courts to create a GDPR backdoor to your data?

Namecheap has a long history of advocating for and protecting our customers’ privacy. We were early champions for your rights, we embraced the GDPR, and we will continue to go above and beyond in fighting for your privacy rights. We refuse to hand over your private information unless the company requesting it has established a legal right to it. For many companies, this is good news and a standard they practice as well. A small group, however, believe they are entitled to your information just because of who they are and because they ask.

Today, we find ourselves in a battle for your privacy with one such company: Facebook.

In this battle, Facebook is fighting for the blanket right to access your information. Should it persuade a US court that it has this blanket right, it will create a backdoor to the GDPR and to your personal information. We cannot, in good conscience, be silent and allow this to happen. We will fight this fight and want to give you the information you may need to understand how Facebook’s arguments attempt to open a door to your personal information. To understand the significance and breadth of the proposed backdoor, you need some context on the GDPR. You also need a little info on the domain industry and ICANN.

Wow. I was already aware that Facebook regard GDPR and similar laws as irritating obstacles in its quest to Collect All The Data About Everyone. Shortly after GDPR was passed, Facebook opted-in all of their UK users to the US arm of their service and away from Ireland which previously managed all those users.

I’m guess they’re hoping that this court case will go under most folks’ radars, thanks to all the other stuff going on in the world right now.

Also worth noting, ICANN’s response to GDPR says a lot about how they regard the privacy of Internet users. Then again, ICANN’s reputation has never been stellar to start with.