Google, Meta fined 100 billion won for violating privacy law

The Personal Information Protection Commission on Wednesday decided that Google will have to pay 69.2 billion won and Meta 30.8 billion won.

Yang Cheong-sam, head of the investigation team of the Personal Information Protection Commission, speaks during a press conference on Wednesday at the government office in Jongno District, central Seoul, about imposing fines against Google and Meta for a privacy law violation. [YONHAP]

Google and Meta have been fined 100 billion won ($72 million) for violating a privacy law.

The Personal Information Protection Commission on Wednesday decided that Google will have to pay 69.2 billion won and Meta 30.8 billion won for collecting users’ personal behavior information without permission and for utilizing the data in personalized advertising.

The privacy watchdog also ordered the tech companies to clearly inform users prior to collecting and utilizing their personal information.

This is Korea’s first case of imposing a penalty for collecting users' behavior information regarding personalized advertising. The fines levied against Google and Meta are also the harshest ever for a privacy law violation case.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]