Facebook back at ECJ
Facebook and Max Schrems will be back before the European Court of Justice, in Kirchberg. Ireland’s High Court has asked the ECJ 11 questions about the current EU-US data transfer deal, reported the Irish Times and Reuters. This is part of a very lengthy legal battle between Schrems, an Austrian lawyer, and the social media giant’s European hub, which is based in Dublin. Schrems claims that the EU-US “Privacy Shield” scheme breaches the EU rights charter. His earlier case against Facebook at the EU’s top court ended with the previous transatlantic data transfer deal, “Safe Harbour”, getting struck down.
Minor refugees right to family reunification
The European Court of Justice ruled that unaccompanied minor refugees have the right to reunification visas being issued to family members, reported Reuters.
Trump inquiry into Amazon’s delivery deal
Donald Trump has set up a task force on the US Postal Service’s finances, said the Financial Times. He has frequently blasted the agency’s delivery contract with Amazon, saying it’s a loss-making deal for the post office. The figures are not public. Amazon’s owner Jeff Bezos also owns the Washington Post, which often publishes critical articles about the US president, the FT noted.
US could rejoin Pacific free trade bloc
Donald Trump is now reconsidering the Trans Pacific Partnership, the free trade group of 11 countries on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, reported the BBC. He took the US out of the bloc last year, calling it a “disaster”, but now thinks it could be an effective counterweight to China.
Americans prefer free Facebook
Only 23% of Facebook’s US users would pay for an ad-free version, according to a Recode survey. Adverts earn the social media firm about $9 per month for each user, the tech site said. Among those who would pay, 42% said they’d stump up between $1-$5 each month; 25% said $6-$10. The question of a paid, ad-free version of Facebook came up during this week’s congressional hearings into the firm’s privacy practices.
French startup campus draws more international attention
“Paris start-up hub seeks to steal London’s crown” says the Financial Times headline. Station F, which calls itself “the world’s biggest startup campus”, was visited by Luxembourg’s royal couple and cabinet ministers last month, as part of the official state visit to France.
A Saint-Joseph, anyone?
Tired of Bordeaux and Burgundy? Bloomberg has recommended wine from five lesser known appellations.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by @aarongrunwald.