- Enforcing jurisdiction
- Germany · Geography does not establish applicable law.
- Confirmed applicable legislation
- Privacy topics
Court case VI ZB 39/18 – Court Ruling (Germany, 2019)
Privacy enforcement record
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A German court ruled that Facebook must disclose user data to help someone pursue civil claims against false allegations. This is significant because it clarifies how user data can be shared for legal purposes.
What happened
The court allowed the disclosure of user data by Facebook to support civil law claims related to shared messages.
Who was affected
The affected person was an individual who sought access to user data to address false allegations made against them.
What the authority found
The German Federal Court of Justice ruled that disclosing user data for civil claims is permissible under specific legal conditions.
Why this matters
This case sets a precedent for how social media companies can handle user data in legal contexts. Businesses should be aware of the legal frameworks governing data sharing.
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Linked-source text retrieved.
Automated check recorded — 14 April 2026.
Processing notes: national law identified, authority corrected.
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The applicant does not have a user account on Facebook, nor uses the Facebook Messenger, but she found out that other users shared messages with her friends and family members. She claimed that the messages included untrue allegations about her and she requested to be provided with all the relevant data of the users’ accounts in order to support civil law claims. The German Federal Court of Justice noted, that the German Telemedia Act (TMG) covers the social network service providers, including Facebook Messenger. This Act allows the disclosure of user data by the providers for the enforcement of civil law claims and according to the Court it constitutes a necessary and proportionate measure in a democratic society as required under Article 23(1)(j) GDPR. Moreover, the exception provided for under Article 6(4) GDPR which allows processing for different purposes when it is based on Member State law is not limited to the fulfillment of a “legal obligation” or “public interest” according to Article 6(1)(c) GDPR and Article 6(1)(e) GDPR.
Outcome
Court Ruling
A ruling by a national court on a data-protection matter.
Related Cases (0)
No other cases found for Court case VI ZB 39/18 in DE
This is the only recorded case for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Court case VI ZB 39/18 - Germany (2019). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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