TechnologyMeta Fined €265m Over Data Protection

Meta Fined €265m Over Data Protection

-

- Advertisment -spot_img
TV AND SOUND SALE

The owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – Meta has been fined €265m (£228m) by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC).

Meta

According the BBC, the current fine is over a data breach that saw the personal details of hundreds of millions of Facebook users published online. Phone numbers and email addresses of up to 533m users appeared on an online hacking forum.

Following that, the DPC launched an investigation in April 2021 which eventually ended with the tech company been billed.

FREE DELIVERY

Facebook said at the time that the information, some of which had already appeared online a number of years ago, was “scraped”, but not hacked, by malicious actors through a vulnerability in its tools prior to September 2019.

“Scraping” uses automated software to lift public information from the internet that can then end up being distributed in online forums.

‘Considerable risks’

However, the DPC found that Meta was in breach of Article 25 of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules.

“Because this data set was so large, because there had been previous instances of scraping on the platform, where the issues could have been identified in a more timely way, we ultimately imposed a significant sanction,” Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon said.

Read Also: 10 Arrested, Weapons Seized As Violence Hit Osun Park

“The risks are considerable for individuals in terms of scamming, spamming, smishing, phishing and loss of control over their personal data so we imposed a fine of €265m in total.”

As well as the fine, Meta has been issued with a reprimand and an order requiring it to bring its processing into compliance by taking a range of specified remedial actions within a particular timeframe.

A spokesman for the company said: “Protecting the privacy and security of people’s data is fundamental to how our business works. That’s why we have cooperated fully with the Irish Data Protection Commission on this important issue.

“We made changes to our systems during the time in question, including removing the ability to scrape our features in this way using phone numbers.

Read Also: 39 Persons, Including Corps Member Convicted For Internet Fraud

“Unauthorised data scraping is unacceptable and against our rules and we will continue working with our peers on this industry challenge. We are reviewing this decision carefully.”

In September, Meta lodged an appeal in the High Court against a record fine of €405m imposed on Instagram by the DPC.

It was the largest fine ever handed down by the Irish data watchdog and was issued for breaches relating to the processing of children’s data. (BBC)

newswebbs
newswebbshttps://newswebbs.com
New Webbs is an independent online news platform launched with the aim of connecting the world with the latest news on the web.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest news

Canada Updates Express Entry Program With New Criteria For 2025

The Canadian Immigration Department has introduced updates to the Express Entry programme for 2025. This new updates will affect skilled...

Niger: Mobile Police Officer Dies Under Suspected Suicide

Kontagora, Niger - A suspected case of suicide of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), has left the residents...

Sources: UK’s AI Ambitions Could Lead To Water Shortages

Industry sources said Sir Keir Starmer's plan to make the UK a "world leader" in Artificial Intelligence (AI) could...

AI Poised to Automate 70% of Computer-Based Jobs: Report

AI, according to a new study, could transform or replace as much as 70 per cent of tasks in...
- Advertisement -spot_imgspot_img

SUNU Group Marks Second Anniversary of the Passing of Mr. Pathé DIONE, Founder

Lagos, Nigeria - SUNU Group commemorates second year passing anniversary of its visionary founder, Mr. Pathé DIONE, on Monday...

Lagos State, Origin Tech Group Redefine Food Security with Africa’s Largest Food Hub

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to increasing food security and infrastructure development from its...

Must read

- Advertisement -spot_imgspot_img

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you

MEN'S FASHION
DEFACTO OFFICIAL STORE