Transferring EU Facebook users’ data to the US, where it is subject to fewer stringent privacy protections, has been ongoing for a decade.
Facebook has been slapped with a record fine of $1.5bn (£1.04bn) by the Irish data protection regulator.
It is the biggest fine ever levied for breach of the general data protection regulations (GDPR), which require the data holder’s permission before using their personal information.
Meta has incurred the fine for transferring EU users’ data to the United States for processing, despite a 2020 verdict handed down by the highest EU court saying the data was insufficiently protected from US spying agencies.
ordered to halt the practice and has been given at least five months to suspend future transfers and six months to stop unlawful processing and storage of data in the US. Instagram and WhatsApp are not subject to the order.
new pact is being worked on between the EU and US to facilitate safe and legal data sharing and may be operational by the summer but also could face legal challenges. Meta said in April it expects the pact to be completed before it is compelled to cease the current, illegal data transfer.
Is this good news?
Ending the data transfer could cost an estimated 10% of its advertising revenue, Meta said in an investor call last month – an amount that is multiples larger than Monday’s £1bn fine.
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