Complaints have been filed against Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Google within hours of new EU data laws taking effect.

Privacy group Noyb said it filed the complaints because it believes the technology companies are using what it calls "forced consent".

As part of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies that gather data are required to gain consent, freely given, from users to collect and use their personal information.

[UPDATE] - first round of #GDPR complaints against #Google, #Facebook, #Instagram and #WhatsApp over „#ForcedConsent" filed tonight by @noybeu!#GDPR is now on the books - it's time to make the big guys follow it! More: website #DSGVO #EUdataP pic.twitter.com/h3fArnpV86

- noyb (@NOYBeu) May 25, 2018 However, the group argues that the firms have threatened to no longer offer services to those who do not consent to new terms of service.

Noyb chairman Max Schrems said: "Facebook has even blocked accounts of users who have not given consent.

"In the end users only had the choice to delete the account or hit the ‘agree' button - that's not a free choice, it more reminds of a North Korean election process."

In response, a Google spokesman said: "We build privacy and security into our products from the very earliest stages and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

"Over the last 18 months, we have taken steps to update our products, policies and processes to provide users with meaningful data transparency and control across all the services that we provide in the EU."

(Yui Mok/PA)

The complaints were filed in France, Belgium, Germany and Austria, and if upheld could see the firms hit with large fines under the new rules.

Facebook's chief privacy officer Erin Egan said: "We have prepared for the past 18 months to ensure we meet the requirements of the GDPR. We have made our policies clearer, our privacy settings easier definisi teknologi pendidikan (look at these guys) to find and introduced better tools for people to access, download, and delete their information.

"Our work to improve people's privacy doesn't stop on May 25.