Facebook 'Like' button banned in Germany

According to a press release by German State, Facebook popular 'Like' button is officially banned in Germany, citing infringement on the Telemedia Act and the Federal Data Protection Act as Facebook transfers data back to the US. A click on the 'Like' button will send one's IP Address to Facebook servers, thus illegally tacking users' web habits.

A German-to-English translation on an excerpt from a press release by Google Translation is as such.

The ULD expects all website operators in Schleswig-Holstein, that they immediately cease the data cascading over her to-use Facebook in the U.S., by disabling the appropriate services. This is not done until the end of September 2011, the ULD will take further measures. After going through the legally provided consultation and administrative proceedings can do so in public places his complaints under § LDSG SH, 42 with private entities injunctions under § 38 Para 5 BDSG and administrative penalties. The maximum height is fine for violations of the TMG at 50,000 €.r

Thilo Weichert, head of the ULD "The ULD has long been informally suggest that many Facebook offers are illegal. This has unfortunately been hindered because few operators to take the offer, particularly as these easy to install and use are free of charge.

The Unabhängiges Landeszentrum für Datenschutz Schleswig-Holstein (ULD) has its data-protection rating of the range analysis by Facebook, published on the Internet here.