Meta Fined $15.67 Million For Unauthorized Data Collection In South Korea

According to Odaily, the South Korean Personal Information Protection Commission announced on Tuesday that Meta Platforms has been fined 21.62 billion Korean won (approximately $15.67 million) for collecting sensitive user data without legal grounds and providing it to advertisers. The commission revealed that Meta gathered information on around 980,000 South Korean Facebook users, including details about their religion, political views, and sexual orientation, without obtaining user consent. This data was subsequently utilized by approximately 4,000 advertisers. The commission stated, "We found that Meta analyzed user behavior data, such as the pages they liked on Facebook and the ads they clicked on, and created and managed advertising themes related to sensitive information." This action by Meta has raised significant concerns regarding user privacy and data protection, highlighting the ongoing global debate over the ethical handling of personal information by tech giants. The fine imposed on Meta underscores the importance of adhering to data protection regulations and obtaining explicit user consent before collecting and using sensitive information. This development is part of a broader scrutiny of major technology companies and their data practices, as governments worldwide seek to enforce stricter privacy laws to protect citizens' personal information. The South Korean commission's decision reflects a growing trend of regulatory bodies taking decisive action against companies that fail to comply with data protection standards. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the balance between innovation and privacy remains a critical issue for both regulators and technology firms.