South Korea Fines Meta $15 Million

South Korea has hit Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, with a staggering fine of over $15 million on Tuesday, for illegally collecting sensitive user data from nearly a million South Koreans.

The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) of South Korea discovered that Meta illegally collected sensitive information from approximately 980,000 Facebook users without their consent.

This sensitive data included details about users’ religious beliefs and sexual orientation, both of which are protected under South Korean law unless explicit consent is granted.

The commission found this breach particularly concerning, as it involved sharing this sensitive information with around 4,000 advertisers, who used it for targeted campaigns on sensitive issues such as transgender rights and homosexuality.

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The commission’s chairman emphasized, “This decision reinforces the necessity for foreign operators to comply with South Korea’s stringent data protection laws.”

In addition to the financial penalty of 21.6 billion won (roughly $15.6 million), Meta has been ordered to implement safety measures and ensure a legal basis for processing such sensitive information moving forward.