In a significant legal ruling, South Korea’s top court upheld a fine of 6.7 billion-won ($4.6 million) imposed on Meta, previously known as Facebook, by the nation’s data protection watchdog. The fine was issued by the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) after an investigation revealed that Meta had shared personal information of South Korean users without their consent. Between May 2012 and June 2018, the company shared the personal data of at least 3.3 million South Korean users with third parties. This data sharing occurred without the users’ knowledge or explicit permission, raising serious privacy concerns about how Meta handles sensitive user information.
Meta filed a lawsuit in 2021, challenging the PIPC’s fine and arguing that the users had consented to the sharing of their data. The company maintained that users had agreed to share their data and that Meta did not induce them to do so under false pretenses. Despite this defense, the South Korean Supreme Court dismissed Meta’s appeal and upheld the decisions made by lower courts in 2023. The court ruled that the PIPC’s actions were lawful, rejecting Meta’s argument that the data sharing was authorized by user consent. This ruling represents a major blow to Meta in its ongoing battle over data privacy regulations in South Korea.
With the court’s decision finalizing the matter, the PIPC is now able to enforce corrective measures that were previously suspended due to Meta’s legal challenge.
These corrective actions are aimed at ensuring that Meta complies with South Korea’s strict data privacy laws. In addition to the fine, the investigation highlighted Meta’s failure to cooperate with the PIPC during the investigation, including the submission of data late and providing false documents. The court also found that Meta had not been transparent about the nature of the data sharing, which involved not only users’ information but also details about their Facebook friends, such as their academic background and marital status.
This case follows a broader trend of increasing scrutiny of tech giants in South Korea and globally regarding their handling of user data.
Meta’s legal battles over data privacy are far from over, as the company continues to face pressure from regulators around the world. South Korea’s top court decision is seen as a win for privacy rights, sending a message to major tech companies about the importance of respecting user consent and complying with national data protection laws. The ruling underscores the need for companies to be more transparent and accountable when handling sensitive personal information.
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