The regulator has proposed the social technology company to suspend any future transfer of personal data to the US within the period of five months and to bring its data processing operations into compliance within a six-month period
Meta has been fined €1.2bn by the Irish DPC.(Credit: VisbyStar/Wikimedia Commons)
Meta Platforms Ireland has been fined €1.2bn by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) following the conclusion of an inquiry into the firm’s personal data transfers from the EU/EEA to the US related to the provision of its Facebook services.
The Irish watchdog has imposed fines on the Facebook owner for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The regulator has proposed the social technology company to suspend any future transfer of personal data to the US within the period of five months.
Besides, the DPC has asked Meta to bring its data processing operations into compliance by discontinuing unlawful processing, including storage of EU/EEA users’ personal data in the US within a six-month period.
The investigation into Meta service was initially launched in August 2020 and was later stayed by an order of the High Court of Ireland until 20 May 2021.
According to the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), the fine imposed upon Meta is the largest GDPR fine ever.
EDPB Chair Andrea Jelinek said: “The EDPB found that Meta IE’s infringement is very serious since it concerns transfers that are systematic, repetitive and continuous. Facebook has millions of users in Europe, so the volume of personal data transferred is massive.
“The unprecedented fine is a strong signal to organisations that serious infringements have far-reaching consequences.”
In a separate statement, Meta said that it will appeal against the decisions made by DPC and EDPB.
Besides, the social technology company intends to seek a stay with the courts to halt the implementation deadlines.
Meta also assured that there will be no immediate disruption to Facebook in Europe.
Meta said: “There is no immediate disruption to Facebook because the decision includes implementation periods that run until later this year.
“We intend to appeal both the decision’s substance and its orders including the fine and will seek a stay through the courts to pause the implementation deadlines.”
Earlier this year, Meta Platforms Ireland was fined €390m by the DPC on concluding two inquiries into the firm’s data processing activities related to its Facebook and Instagram services.