SEOUL, South Korea, November 5, 2024 – Meta Platforms, Inc. a social technology company has been fined for 21.62 billion won ($15.67 million) due to illegal collection and sharing of sensitive user data without proper consent.
The investigation was conducted by South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) and revealed that Meta collected user information from around 980,000 South Korean Facebook users. The data included details about the users’ religion, political views, and sexual orientations.
The PIPC observed that Meta did not obtain explicit user consent before collecting and using their sensitive information. South Korean commission also noted that Meta categorized users based on sensitive themes such as being North Korean defectors, following a certain religion or identifying as transgender or gay.
In addition to $15.67 million fine, the commission has directed Meta to establish legal grounds for processing sensitive information, implement safety measures, and respond diligently to users’ requests for access to their personal data. Meta has said that it will review the PIPC decision carefully.
This is not the first time Meta fined by South Korea. In recent years, the parent company of Facebook has been under increased scrutiny for its handling of private and sensitive information. Lee Eun Jung, the PIPC’s director has emphasized the importance of protecting users’ privacy and ensuring that companies follow the law.
South Korean office of Meta has declined to comment on the fine. In September 2024, the European regulators had also fined Meta over $100 million for a security lapse that revealed user credentials.
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South Korea’s PIPC decision highlights the growing global concern over data privacy and the need for companies like Meta to be more transparent and responsible while collecting user data. Users also need to be more aware of their rights and should demand better protection for their personal information.
As the world is leading rapidly towards digitalization, the protection of user data remains a crucial issue. Governments and data regulatory bodies are stepping up their efforts to ensure that companies adhere to strong data protection laws and respect user’s privacy. The fine imposed on Meta serves as a reminder that companies must prioritize user consent and data security to maintain trust and avoid legal consequences.
In the final analysis, the fine imposed by South Korea’s PIPC on Meta underscores the importance of data privacy and the need for companies to follow the law of the land. The decision by PIPC is a significant step towards protecting user’s personal information and ensuring that companies are held accountable for their data collection practices.
