Facebook’s parent company, Meta, was fined $1.3 billion for mishandling the data of its users. The hefty fine was imposed by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, which is responsible for regulating Meta across Europe. The Irish supervisory authority has also ordered Meta to suspend the movement of user data from the EU to the US, although transfer is not immediate.
Meta Have Failed
Facebook has been targeted by privacy rights groups for decades as the company has been accused of mishandling personal data of its users. A former NSA contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed to the world how American authorities have been collecting data via Facebook and Google. Protecting users’ data has been a losing game in the US, and Meta has failed so far, the experts believe.
Meta Says Decision is Unjustified
In response, Meta has expressed serious disappointment regarding the decision calling it ‘flawed and unjustified’. Facebook president Nick Clegg has said that the decision is going to set a dangerous precedent for multiple other companies transferring data between the EU and US.
