Home Depot gave personal data to Meta without valid customer consent: watchdog

OTTAWA –

The federal privateness watchdog says Home Depot shared particulars from digital receipts with Meta, which operates the Facebook social media platform, with out the data or consent of shoppers.

In a report right now, privateness commissioner Philippe Dufresne says the information included encoded e-mail addresses and in-store buy info.

The commissioner’s investigation discovered that the knowledge despatched to Meta was used to see whether or not a buyer had a Facebook account.

If they did have an account, Meta in contrast what the client purchased at Home Depot to ads despatched over the platform to measure and report on the effectiveness of the advertisements.

In an announcement, Dufresne says it’s unlikely that Home Depot prospects would have anticipated their private info to be shared with a social media platform just because they opted for an digital receipt.

Dufresne, who plans to debate his findings at a news convention right now, says Home Depot stopped sharing buyer info with Meta final October.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 26, 2023.

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Meta funds a restricted variety of fellowships that assist rising journalists at The Canadian Press.

This is a breaking news story. More info to return.