Australia: Issued decision by High Court of Australia revoking Facebook’s special leave to appeal

On 7 March 2023, the Full Court of the High Court of Australia issued a decision to revoke Facebook’s special leave to appeal to the High Court in the 2020 case brought by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) against Facebook for allegedly disclosing the personal information of Australian Facebook users to Cambridge Analytica through the “This Is Your Digital Life” app. The High Court granted the Australian Information Commissioner’s application to revoke special leave due to changes in the Federal Court Rules regarding overseas service. As a result of the decision, the substantive proceeding against Facebook over the Cambridge Analytica issue will now progress.