Datenschutz im Social Web

The thesis analyzes issues concerning the processing of personal data by private actors in social networks. It takes into account current developments in privacy law, particularly the changes set forth by the General Data Protection Regulation. It discusses how both, operators of social networks, whose headquarters are often within the USA, and users of such networks, are bound by European privacy laws and, if applicable, by privacy laws of member states of the EU. Furthermore, the thesis evaluates the lawfulness of the processing of personal data in social networks by users, operators of social networks, and third parties. With regard to transfers of personal data from the EU to the USA, the thesis also analyzes the processing of personal data in U.S. privacy law.