Facebook has been fined 7 million euros by Italy for repeated data violations and for selling users data to third parties for commercial purpose. While Facebook was fined for selling users data to third parties, in India the Govt itself sold national vehicle database of Indian citizens to car manufacturers and private companies like BMW, Mercedes and others for Rs 100 crores.
Facebook was asked to pay a fine of seven million euros for misleading data protection practices in Italy.
Italy’s Competition and Market Authority has fined Facebook as it could not comply with orders associated with data security of users or subscribers.
Regulators say that it has breached the consumer code of Italy by claiming free services while misleading users how their data is used for various purposes and shared with third parties.
Facebook was ordered to change its data handling practices in 2018 and fined 10 million euros, but it failed to comply with it.
Facebook appealed to reduce this fine to five million euros via court in 2020.
Now, additional penalties came after Facebook failed to comply with the order to fix the misleading practices.
The social networking giant is required to display the order in its app and on its homepage for users in Italy, but it did not publish the declaration.
Facebook did not cease the ascertained wrong practice.
Precise information is not provided yet on the data usage for commercial purpose.
Clear information will help users decide whether they should join the services or not.
As per FB spokesperson, Facebook appealed against initial findings of regulators and they are waiting for Italian Council of State’s decision.
It has made some changes in terms of service and eliminated the claim that it is free while registering with it.
This is not the first time Facebook was fined, it was fined in 2019 in Hungary too.
Facebook was fined 1.2 billion Hungarian forints for claiming free services on the help centre and landing page.
While Facebook was fined for selling users data to third parties, the Govt of India sold national vehicle database of Indian citizens to car manufacturers and private companies like BMW, Mercedes and others for Rs 100 crores.
Recently, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Facebook attacked the sovereign nation of Australia and that his government will not be intimidated by Facebook’s threats.
Meanwhile, other nations from around the world have join in sparking a global war against the threats from Big Tech.
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I agree with Italy. Here, Portugal, FB joke with Government and President!
P.S.: Congrats, Great GameIndia for your articles! Only, maybe September or October, I could support your Page/Blog.