Facebook tracks internet users without consent, breaking EU law

New research from the EU suggests that Facebook is tracking internet users' web browsing habits, even if they've opted out of the feature or haven't registered with the social media site.

Various European researchers found that the site puts cookies on users' computers if they visit any page with a facebook.com domain, The Guardian reported. These pages can be viewable without a Facebook account, as well, and includes fan pages.

Furthermore, if a user visits a third-party site that has a Facebook social plug-in installed, including the “Like” button, the tracking cookies are sent back to the company. The user doesn't have to interact with the social plug-in or anything else associated with Facebook.

These practices violate EU privacy law, The Guardian reported, because prior consent must be given before a cookie is issued or tracking is performed.