EU-28: Filed request for preliminary ruling in case on processing and analysis of personal data for targeted advertising (Case C-446/21)

On 20 July 2021, the Austrian Supreme Court filed a request for a preliminary ruling to the Court of Justice of the European Union in case C-446/21, addressing the processing of personal data for targeted advertising under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The case is between Meta Platforms Ireland and activist Maximilian Schrems, and questioned the legality of using personal data, specifically concerning sexual orientation, for personalised advertising. The Austrian Supreme Court seeks clarification on whether a network like Facebook may analyse all personal data available to it for the purpose of targeted advertising without time restriction. Further, the Austrian Supreme Court also seeks clarification on the legality of Facebook's processing in view of the fact that information regarding the user's sexuality was made public in a panel discussion.