Facebook taken to court over data dispute

Social networking giant Facebook has initiated legal action against another website, but is now facing a counterclaim that seeks to determine whether the site has ownership of its users’ data.

Power.com, a social networking aggregator, allows users to access several social networks through its one website, where users can update their data and accounts.

Facebook initiated legal action against it for claims of alleged copyright infringement and fraud, but Power has issued a counterclaim, accusing Facebook of blocking competition.

Power chief executive Steve Vachani told news.com.au that Facebook is hindering competition by blocking consumers’ access to their data.

“This is similar to phone companies that blocked you from moving your phone number,” Vachani said. “Users have built huge amounts of time with [Facebook]… and they lock up your information.”

Meanwhile, Facebook has claimed that it has made “numerous attempts” to work together with Power before it issued legal action, “but… they continued to put Facebook user data at risk”.

“The claims in Power’s lawsuit are “without merit, and we will fight them aggressively,” the site said in a statement.