Meta lost a lawsuit against the South Korean data protection authorities for sharing users’ personal data without consent. According to the Seoul Administrative Court, Meta profited from legal notices and failed to inform users.
Meta, formerly known as Facebook,lost its appeal of a South Korean data protection watchdog sanction for disclosing users’ personal data without consent.
After discovering that over 3.3 million South Korean Facebook users out of 18 million had their personal information shared with third-party operators without their consent, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) fined Meta 7.8 billion won ($5.78 million) in November 2020. This unauthorized sharing occurred from May 2012 to June 2018.
Meta filed a complaint with the PIPC in reaction to the penalties, claiming that users consented to data sharing and that the firm did not induce them.
The Court found Meta’s users were not appropriately notified about legal notices.
Meta lost at the Seoul Administrative Court on Thursday (26 October). Meta gained unlawfully from not informing consumers about legal letters, the court ruled.
The PIPC also discovered that third-party operators received a user’s Facebook friends’ personal information when they used their services using Facebook login. This information covered users’ academic, family, and marital status.
The watchdog also accused Meta of hindering the probe via late data submission and misleading documentation.
Implications: Meta must follow the court’s ruling.
This verdict sets a precedent for data privacy in South Korea, emphasizing informed consent and ethical data handling. It shows the implications firms face when such criteria are not reached and users’ data is mistreated or shared without their consent.
Meta must comply with the court’s ruling and may need to reassess its data-sharing methods in South Korea and elsewhere to avoid future legal issues.
This case contributes to the global debate on data privacy and internet corporations’ use of user data. It emphasizes clear and transparent data-sharing agreements and user consent, especially when exchanging data with third parties.
Protection from data breaches and privacy issues
This verdict strengthens regulatory authorities’ role in holding firms accountable for data protection violations as data breaches and privacy issues make news. To prevent legal issues and maintain public trust, companies must protect customer data and comply with privacy laws.
Conclusion
Meta lost a lawsuit against the South Korean data protection authorities for sharing users’ personal data without consent. After Meta was found to have shared over 3.3 million South Korean Facebook users out of 18 million with third-party operators without their consent, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) fined Meta 7.8 billion won ($5.78 million) in November 2020. Meta sued, claiming that users consented to data sharing and that the business did not coerce them. Meta was found guilty of unjust profiting by misleading customers about legal alerts by the Seoul Administrative Court on October 26. This verdict sets a precedent for data privacy in South Korea, emphasizing informed consent and ethical data handling.
