A privacy consultant named Alexander Hanff has filed a criminal complaint against YouTube in Ireland for using scripts that detect and restrict ad blockers on the platform.
Hanff alleges that YouTube’s use of these scripts violates EU law, which requires consent for non-necessary interactions with users’ devices. He also argues that the scripts amount to spying on EU citizens.
“I consider YouTube’s script to be spyware — aka surveillance technology, as it is deployed without my knowledge or authorization to my device for the sole purpose of intercepting and monitoring my behavior (whether or not ads load in my browser or are blocked by an ad blocker),” he told The Register.
“I chose to go down the criminal complaint route because historically, EU regulators have been absolutely terrible at enforcing the ePrivacy Directive,” he added.
Hanff’s complaint comes on the heels of YouTube’s recent decision to block ad blockers on the platform. The company has said that the move is necessary to protect its revenue from advertising. However, many users have criticized the decision, arguing that it infringes on their privacy and right to control their online experience.
In addition to the criminal complaint, Hanff has also filed a civil complaint against YouTube with the Irish Data Protection Commission. The regulatory authority is currently investigating the matter.
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(Via)
