How Europe's 'breakthrough' privacy law takes on Facebook and Google

Europe's General Data Protection Regulation is forcing big changes at tech's biggest firms - even if the US isn't likely to follow suit

Despite the political theatre of Mark Zuckerberg's congressional interrogations last week, Facebook's business model isn't at any real risk from regulators in the US. In Europe, however, the looming General Data Protection Regulation will give people better privacy protections and force companies including Facebook to make sweeping changes to the way they collect data and consent from users - with huge fines for those who don't comply.

"It's changing the balance of power from the giant digital marketing companies to focus on the needs of individuals and democratic society," said Jeffrey Chester, founder of the Center for Digital Democracy. "That's an incredible breakthrough."