French consumer watchdog file lawsuit accusing Facebook, Twitter of 'abusive', 'illegal' practices

France's top consumer watchdog has accused social media giants of 'abusive' and 'illegal' practices.

UFC-Que Choisir filed a lawsuit against Facebook, Twitter and Google, accusing them of breaching Internet users' privacy, in the latest crackdown against data-collection policies.

According to CNN, the watchdog sued the companies at the French High Court, alleging 'abusive' and 'illegal' practices.

Choisir added that the social media companies were also not heeding repeated warnings in June to modify what it called 'inaccessible' and 'illegible' user terms of conditions.

The group is asking French judges to 'order the suppression or modification of the myriad of litigious clauses imposed by these companies'.

European nations, including France, have increasingly cracked down on the privacy policies of global Internet giants, the report added.