Google, Meta slapped with $100m fine by South Korea

Seoul: South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) Wednesday slapped a combined fine of 100 billion won (US$71.9 million) on Google and Meta over unauthorized personal data collection and using it for personalized online advertising and other purposes. 

As per an official statement, the commission fined Google 69.2 billion won ($49.8 million) and Meta 30.8 billion won.  

The fines mark the highest amount ever imposed for violations of the personal information protection law.

The commission stated that both companies did not clearly inform service users and obtain prior consent when collecting and analyzing users’ behavioral information to infer their interests or use them for customized advertisements. 

Google and Meta did not have an immediate comment.