Summary:

- The European Union's top court has ruled that social media platforms cannot keep users' personal data indefinitely. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) stated that social networks must delete user data once it is no longer necessary for the purpose it was collected.

- This ruling stems from a case brought by an Austrian privacy activist against Facebook, which had kept his personal data even after he deleted his account. The CJEU said companies must respect the "right to be forgotten" and delete data when it is no longer needed for its original purpose.

- The decision is seen as a victory for privacy advocates, as it places limits on how long social media platforms can retain user data. It reinforces the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and strengthens individuals' control over their personal information on online platforms.