The European Data Protection Board (EDPU) has fined Meta €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion USD) for moving user data from the EU back to the US without the express consent or necessary safeguards.
The largest-ever penalty of its kind, it relates to data transfers made by Meta after the EU’s more strict GDPR requirements went into effect in 2020.
The verdict has been challenged by Meta, who also emphasized the dangers of fragmenting the web as a result of this strategy.
Additionally, it has been collaborating honestly on a new Data Privacy Framework with EU regulators. The EDPU has penalized Meta for what it feels is an unjust reading of its efforts.
This is a significant setback for Meta, which is already feeling the effects of the global decline in ad spending and data collecting limitations. Due to an impending change in EU law, Meta may also be subject to a civil lawsuit and could suffer another large loss in ad revenue.
Read Also: Meta’s Twitter Rival Is Set To Launch Next Month
Legal professionals don’t see any way for Meta to avoid paying or significantly settling with the EU. The next step will be a drawn-out legal struggle as Meta tries to have the punishment reduced.
