World

Italy fines Facebook €7 million over data protection

Regulator says social media giant did not properly inform users about how it collects, uses their data 

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 17 Feb 2021 9:30PM

Italy fines Facebook €7 million over data protection
The Italian regulator, AGCM, says the fine came because Facebook ignored the regulators earlier orders to alter its practices. – Pixabay pic, February 17, 2021

ROME – Italy’s antitrust regulator announced today a new fine of €7.0 million (RM34.13 million) against Facebook for misleading conduct on data protection.

According to the authority, known as AGCM, the US social media giant fails to properly inform users about how it collects and uses their data for commercial purposes.

AGCM had already fined Facebook €5.0 million in 2018, charging it with unfair trading practices, and ordered it to take corrective action. 

Today’s second fine came because the US company ignored orders to alter its practices as requested, the Italian regulator said.

Even if Facebook no longer advertises itself as free, “immediate and clear information on the collection and use of user data for commercial purposes is still not provided,” said the AGCM.

“This is information that the consumer needs to decide whether to join the service, in light of the economic value for Facebook of the data provided by the user, which represents payment for the use of the service.” – AFP, February 17, 2021

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