Since Facebook is already collecting personal data of everyone on the planet and their dog - why not reach for, and (ab)use this vast, comprehensive database for the sake of whatever issue of the day a government might feel it needs to advance?
That looks to be the question that France has asked - and the answer the country's president, Emmanuel Macron, has come up with and given to his government is this - go ahead and do it.
In this particular case, the issue is coming up with a legal basis that will allow France's tax and customs authorities access to that user data collected and retained by Facebook, Instagram - which is owned by Facebook - and several other online platforms, including eBay.
According to the report, Macron's government has now moved forward with a proposal that has been sent to France's parliament, which will open a debate on the draft in mid-October. If passed, this bill will allow the government to give tax and customs administrations the authority to use personal data accumulated by Facebook and others to "detect fraud."
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