South Korea fines Google, Meta $72 million over privacy violations
South Korea바카라 게임 웹사이트s privacy watchdog has fined Google and Meta a combined $72 million for tracking consumers바카라 게임 웹사이트 online behavior without their consent and using their data for targeted advertisements.
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South Korea바카라 게임 웹사이트s Personal Information and Protection Commission said it fined Google $50 million and Meta $22 million after a meeting where officials agreed that the companies바카라 게임 웹사이트 business practices might cause 바카라 게임 웹사이트serious바카라 게임 웹사이트 privacy infringements.
The fines were the biggest ever penalties imposed by South Korea for privacy law violations, the commission said in a press release.
Both companies refuted the commission바카라 게임 웹사이트s findings and Meta indicated it could challenge its fine in court. The fines can be appealed through administrative lawsuits, which must be filed within 90 days after the companies are formally notified of the commission바카라 게임 웹사이트s decision.
According to the commission, Google and Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, didn바카라 게임 웹사이트t clearly inform users or obtain their consent as they collected information about their online activities when they used other websites or services outside their own platforms. Such data was used to analyze their interests and create individually customized advertisements, the commission said.
The commission ordered the companies to provide an 바카라 게임 웹사이트easy and clear바카라 게임 웹사이트 process of consent giving people more control over whether to share information about what they do online.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Google did not clearly inform consumers that it would collect and use their behavioral information about their use of other companies바카라 게임 웹사이트 (services) when they signed up,바카라 게임 웹사이트 the commission said.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Meta did not present the content of consent in a way that could be easily seen by consumers when they signed up, and just included the content in their full data policy statement. It did not specifically inform consumers of the legally required notifications and did not obtain their consent.바카라 게임 웹사이트
The commission said the companies바카라 게임 웹사이트 practices seriously threatened privacy rights as more than 82% of South Koreans using Google and more than 98% using Meta have let the companies track their online activities.
Google, a search and email giant that also operates the YouTube video platform, disagreed with the commission바카라 게임 웹사이트s findings. It said in a statement that it has always demonstrated a commitment to 바카라 게임 웹사이트making ongoing updates that give users control and transparency.바카라 게임 웹사이트 The company said it will review the commission바카라 게임 웹사이트s findings once it receives the fully written decision.
Meta said it will consider 바카라 게임 웹사이트all options,바카라 게임 웹사이트 including seeking a court ruling.
바카라 게임 웹사이트We are confident that we work with our clients in a legally compliant way that meets the processes required by local regulations,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Meta said in an emailed statement.