The association noyb has filed a complaint against the online dictionary dict.cc with the Austrian data protection authority, challenging the validity of its consent collection mechanism for advertising tracking.

The complaint questions the consent request made to users for the processing of their data by `1 741` partner companies. Noyb argues that it is impossible for a person to give informed consent, as required by the GDPR, when faced with such a large number of actors, with reading their privacy policies estimated at over `170` hours. As a result, dict.cc would not have a valid legal basis for this data processing.

The association asks the Austrian authority to order dict.cc to delete the unlawfully processed data and to inform all recipients. Noyb also suggests imposing a fine to prevent future violations. The case could also lead the authority to issue a broader ban or to refer the matter to the European Data Protection Board for an opinion.