Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been hit with a record-breaking $1.3 billion fine by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) for violating data privacy regulations.
The DPC has ordered Meta to stop transferring EU users’ Facebook data to US servers due to concerns over US surveillance programs and the potential violation of EU citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms.
However, legal experts warn that little may change in Meta’s approach to data privacy as long as US digital protections remain weak.
Meta relies heavily on user data to generate revenue through targeted advertising, and the company plans to pursue a legal stay to avoid disruption to its millions of daily users.
The DPC’s decision only pertains to Facebook and not Meta’s other platforms, and Meta has a grace period to cease future data transfers and purge its current EU data held within the US.
Despite the massive fine, some policy experts remain skeptical of its influence on Meta’s data policy, as comprehensive US data protections remain stalled at the federal level.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
