Meta Will Contest EU $1.3B Data Privacy Fine

Meta, the owner of Facebook, has been fined a record $1.3 billion for transferring EU user data to the US in breach of a previous EU court ruling. The fine is the largest ever levied under Europe’s influential data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The previous record of $$850 million was levied against Amazon in 2021. Meta says that it will be appealing against the fine.

Meta, which also owns WhatsApp and Instagram, said it would appeal the ruling, including the fine. There would be no immediate disruption to Facebook in Europe while the appeal goes ahead.

The battle over where Facebook stores its data began a decade ago after Austrian privacy campaigner Max Schrems brought a legal challenge over the risk of US surveillance, following disclosures by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

The EU regulator insists that the processing and storage of personal data in the US contravened the GDPR. Now, the Irish Data Protection Commission’s (DPC) decision against Meta was published on 22nd May. The DPC aims to make Facebook suspend data transfers between the EU and US due to issues about EU citizens’ data privacy. 

The DPC said that current data transfer practices at Facebook “did not address the risks to the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects” and were in breach of the GDPR.

The legal action comes after a long-running question about citizens’ data privacy and how Facebook has conducted data transfers between the EU and US. Data transfers have been protected by the transatlantic Privacy Shield agreement, which was originally created to allow secure data transfers between the EU and US, which operate in different data protection jurisdictions. 

This was later invalidated after a lawsuit between Meta (then called Facebook) and Max Schrems concluded that the standard offered too much leniency to US surveillance laws.

Meta president of global affairs Nick Clegg said in a blog post "We intend to appeal both the decision's substance and its orders including the fine and will seek a stay through the courts to pause the implementation deadlines...  The ability for data to be transferred across borders is fundamental to how the global open internet works. From finance and telecommunications to critical public services like healthcare or education, the free flow of data supports many of the services that we have come to rely on... Thousands of businesses and other organisations rely on the ability to transfer data between the EU and the US in order to operate and provide services that people use every day,”

Meta maintains that there is a “fundamental conflict of law between the US government’s rules on access to data and European privacy rights". 

Clegg also wrote, “Our priority is to ensure that our users, advertisers, customers and partners can continue to enjoy Facebook while keeping their data safe and secure. There is no immediate disruption to Facebook because the decision includes implementation periods that run until later this year. We intend to appeal both the decision’s substance and its orders including the fine, and will seek a stay through the courts to pause the implementation deadlines.”

In 2020 Apple won its appeal against a European Commission ruling that it owed Ireland €13 billion ($14.9 billion) in taxes. In March this year, Meta was made to pay €5.5 million for breaching the GDPR with its WhatsApp messaging service.

facebook:     ITPro:    CNN:    Insurance Journal:     Bloomberg:    NNUK:     ChannelsTV

TimesOfMalta:   Yahoo

You Might Also Read: 

Facebook Users In Line For $725m Payout:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.

  • Individual £5 per month or £50 per year. Sign Up
  • Multi-User, Corporate & Library Accounts Available on Request

Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible


 

« AI Will Be Disruptive - For Both Security & Jobs
Julius Caesar Used Encryption. Shouldn’t You? »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

TrustedIA

TrustedIA

TrustedIA is a cyber and protective security company. Our mission is to help businesses protect themselves from disruptive events that can impact their successful operation.

CIO

CIO

CIO provides technology and business leaders with insight and analysis on information technology trends

Portnox

Portnox

The Portnox Network Access Control (NAC) Platform traverses across all network layers, and locations to deliver the highest accuracy and control of all connected devices and users.

Casaba Security

Casaba Security

Casaba are specialists in software security providing managed Software Development Lifecycle services as well as products for security testing.

TÜV SÜD

TÜV SÜD

TÜV SÜD is one of the world's leading technical service organisations. Services offered include industrial cyber security.

Early Warning Services

Early Warning Services

Early Warning Services identity, authentication and payment solutions empower financial institutions to make confident decisions, enable payments and mitigate fraud.

NT Cyfence

NT Cyfence

CAT Cyfence is the IT Security services business unit of CAT Telecoms.

Computest

Computest

Computest security testing services include Mobile app security, Vulnerability assessments, Attack & penetration testing, Security awareness training, Network security assessments.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - Ireland

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - Ireland

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the operational side of the Department of Communications in regard to network and information security in the Republic of Ireland.

CASES.lu

CASES.lu

CASES.lu is a government-driven initiative offering awareness-raising, a web resource and other tools to assist SMEs concerning information security.

Samoby

Samoby

Samoby provide a subscription solution for Mobile Threat Protection and usage control on Android and iOS devices.

Tracepoint

Tracepoint

Tracepoint provide full-service cyber incident response, remediation and recovery solutions for the most time-sensitive situation your company may ever face.

Varen Technologies

Varen Technologies

Varen Technologies is an innovative consulting partner with highly respected cyber security, analytics, Agile Software Development and IT/maintenance expertise.

Rimini Street

Rimini Street

Rimini Street is a global provider of enterprise software support products and services, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software products.

CyberSanctus

CyberSanctus

CyberSanctus provide clients with a variety of pentest plans from the entry level starter plan, which is tailored for personal websites, to enterprise level pentests, tailored for large scale business

Zyber 365

Zyber 365

Zyber 365 are providing a robust, decentralized, and cyber-secured operating system which adheres to the fundamental principles of environmental sustainability.