Meta slapped with 5.5 mn euro fine for EU data breach
Social media giant Meta has been fined an additional 5.5 million euros ($5.9 million) for violating EU data protection regulations with its instant messaging platform WhatsApp, Ireland's regulator announced Thursday.
The penalty follows a far larger 390-million-euro fine for Meta's Instagram and Facebook platforms two weeks ago after they were found to have flouted the same EU rules.
In its new decision, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) found the group acted "in breach of its obligations in relation to transparency," the watchdog said in a statement.
In addition, Meta relied on an incorrect legal basis "for its processing of personal data for the purposes of service improvement and security," the DPC added, giving the group six months to comply.
The fine was imposed by the Irish regulator because Meta -- along with other US tech firms -- has its European headquarters in Dublin.
In response on Thursday, Meta said it was opposed to the DPC decision and would look to overturn it.
"We strongly believe that the way the service operates is both technically and legally compliant," a WhatsApp spokesperson said.
"We disagree with the decision and we intend to appeal."
The breaches are similar to those explained in the regulator's action against Meta earlier in January.
But the earlier decision also accused the Meta platforms of breaking rules over the processing of personal data for the purpose of targeted advertising.
In that instance the company, co-founded by social media magnate Mark Zuckerberg, was given only three months to respond to comply with the Irish regulator.
Meta announced its intention to appeal the 4 January decision, adding the regulatory ruling did not prevent targeted or personalised
Read more on tech.hindustantimes.com
