Meta slapped with $15 million fine for collecting sensitive user data

Meta Platforms received a significant fine Tuesday over the alleged unauthorized collection and distribution of user data. South Korea’s privacy watchdog fined the social media giant 21.6 billion won ($15 million) after concluding that Meta unlawfully harvested and shared sensitive information about Facebook users.

The fine adds to ongoing scrutiny of Meta’s data practices, as regulators worldwide heighten oversight of privacy violations.

Meta-user data covers sensitive personal details

The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) found that Meta gathered and distributed sensitive personal details without proper user consent, Reuters reported Wednesday. Between July 2018 and March 2022, Meta reportedly collected data on 980,000 Facebook users, including information about their political views, religion, and sexual orientation. The watchdog concluded that Meta shared this data with approximately 4,000 advertisers, violating privacy protections that require explicit user consent for such personal information.

Additionally, the agency reported a security lapse. Hackers accessed and leaked the information of about 10 South Korean users. This failure to protect personal data further intensified the scrutiny of Meta’s data handling practices.

South Korea’s privacy regulations offer strict safeguards on data related to personal beliefs and social orientation. Companies handling such information must obtain direct approval from users.

The hefty fine follows a series of similar actions by regulators worldwide, emphasizing the rising importance of user privacy in digital spaces. While Meta has faced penalties in the past, the scale of this fine reflects a growing intolerance for privacy violations. Governments globally are tightening regulations to protect user’s private information, with the tech industry facing increased accountability for privacy breaches.

The PIPC’s investigation also revealed that Meta declined requests from users to access or delete personal information. Additionally, the watchdog noted a security breach affecting the data of around ten users, exacerbating concerns over the company’s handling of sensitive information.

Meta under pressure amid intensifying regulatory scrutiny

The Meta user data fine arrives amid heightened regulatory pressures for stricter data practices across social media platforms. Privacy experts argue that the penalty signals broader issues regarding the company’s data policies, especially concerning sensitive user information.

Meta, which owns popular platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, is under increased scrutiny from multiple countries.