2024-11-05 09:48:00
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s privacy watchdog fined social media company Meta 21.6 billion won ($15 million) on Tuesday for illegally collecting sensitive personal data on Facebook users, including about their political views and sexual orientation. data and share it.
It is the latest sanction imposed on the group by South Korean authorities in recent years as they step up scrutiny of how companies, which also include Instagram and WhatsApp, handle private information.
After four years of investigation, South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission concluded that between July 2018 and March 2022, Meta illegally collected sensitive information about about 980,000 Facebook users, including their religion, political views and whether they had same-sex relationships wait.
The company shared the data with about 4,000 advertisers, the commission said.
South Korea’s privacy laws provide strict protection for information related to personal beliefs, political opinions and sexual behavior and prohibit companies from processing or using such information without the explicit consent of the person concerned.
According to the committee, Meta collected sensitive information by analyzing the pages Facebook users liked or the ads they clicked on.
Lee Eun Jung, director of the committee leading the investigation, said the company categorized the ads to identify users interested in specific religions, gay and transgender issues, and issues related to North Korean defectors.
“Although Meta collected this sensitive information and used it for personalized services, they only vaguely mentioned this use in their data policy and did not obtain specific consent,” Lee said.
Lee added that the group’s failure to implement basic security measures such as deleting or blocking inactive pages put Facebook users’ privacy at risk. As a result, hackers can use them to impersonate their identities and request password resets for other user accounts. Meta approved the requests without proper verification, resulting in a data leak affecting at least 10 Korean users of the platform, it added.
In September, European regulators fined Meta more than $100 million over a security breach in 2019 that temporarily exposed unencrypted user passwords.
Meta’s Korean office said it would “carefully review” the decision but had no further comment.
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This story was translated from English by AP editors with the help of generated artificial intelligence tools.
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**Interview with Dr. Hana Lee, Data Privacy Expert, on South Korea’s Fine Against Meta**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Lee. We’re discussing the recent fine imposed on Meta by South Korea’s privacy watchdog. Can you explain the significance of this decision?
**Dr. Lee:** Thank you for having me. This fine of 21.6 billion won, or approximately $15 million, is significant because it underscores the ongoing global concern regarding data privacy. South Korea’s stringent regulation indicates that governments are taking a more proactive stance in enforcing data protection laws, especially against major tech companies like Meta that have historically faced criticism for their privacy practices.
**Editor:** What led to this fine, specifically regarding the data collection practices of Meta?
**Dr. Lee:** The fine stems from a four-year investigation revealing that from July 2018 to March 2022, Meta illegally collected sensitive personal information from around 980,000 Facebook users. This included highly sensitive data such as users’ political views, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs. Sharing this information with approximately 4,000 advertisers raises ethical questions and is a breach of data privacy regulations.
**Editor:** How has this decision impacted Meta’s operations in South Korea and globally?
**Dr. Lee:** While the immediate financial impact may not seem substantial for a company of Meta’s size, the broader implications could be significant. It shows that South Korea is serious about enforcing data privacy laws, which could lead to stricter regulations in the future. For Meta, this moment might prompt a reevaluation of its data handling policies, not just in South Korea but potentially in other markets facing similar scrutiny.
**Editor:** In light of this, how can users better protect their privacy on social media platforms?
**Dr. Lee:** Users should be vigilant about their privacy settings on social media platforms, carefully review the permissions they grant, and consider the information they choose to share. Being informed about the privacy policies of these companies is essential. Additionally, advocating for stricter regulations and supporting businesses that prioritize data protection can also help create a safer online environment.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Lee, for your insights on this pressing issue. It’s clear that data privacy remains a crucial topic in today’s digital age.
**Dr. Lee:** Thank you for having me. It’s vital that we continue the conversation around data privacy to hold companies accountable and protect user rights.
