Meta fined €390m for Using Data Meant for Targeted Ads

Over the years, Meta has been under scrutiny for using public data acquired from their social media platform. They have been exposed to data breaches and a variety of other security threats.

However, recent news report that Meta will be fined €390 million for using public data from the targeted ads. The fine will be imposed under the EU data laws and Meta has to sort out the issue as soon as possible.

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) reported on the situation suggesting that Meta asking for permission for using public data from the ads that are run on Facebook and Instagram was not legally abiding.

Besides the hefty fine, Meta has also been warned to immediately change their data policy within three months to correct how they acquire data from its users. 

Counterfeiting the judgment, Meta issued a statement where they shared their grievances and disappointment with the situation, saying that the platform is more than likely going to change the way it obtains data from the use of targeted ads.

Meta also assured the users that this sudden change will, in no way, affect the personalized ad experience of the users on the platform.

According to the EU regulator, they emphasized that it is not legal for Meta to force consent by acquiring and using the public data that are used for the targeted ads section on the social media platform.

Since Facebook and Instagram both have their headquarters in the EU, tech companies must abide by the EU tech laws and data laws that are put into place. 

The privacy campaigners and activists who are working day in and day out to protect public data applauded the decision put in place by the EU regulatory board saying that Meta will now have to provide their users the free will to choose how their data is being used.

Since everything is happening at a very fast pace, Meta now has to buckle up and be proactive in the way it handles the data. New reforms in data and privacy policy will have to be implemented by Meta to avoid unnecessary risks to public data.

Given the fact that the majority of the income Meta makes is from advertisements, chances are that Meta now has to find better ways to work through the issue if they don’t want to experience another fine or legal breach under EU data law.