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Irish Data Protection Commission Fines Meta Ireland 1.2 Billion Euros

Meta Ireland has been fined 1.2 billion Euros as an administrative penalty, according to an announcement made by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) on May 22, 2023.

The investigation focused on Meta Ireland's transfer of personal data from the EU/EEA to the United States in relation to its provision of Facebook services.

The decision states that Meta Ireland violated Article 46(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) by continuing to transfer personal data from the EU/EEA to the US, despite the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) in the Data Protection Commissioner v Facebook Ireland Limited and Maximillian Schrems case.

The investigation was initiated in August 2020 and was temporarily halted until May 20, 2021, to await the resolution of legal proceedings as ordered by the Irish High Court. Following a thorough investigation, the DPC drafted a decision on July 6, 2022.

The decision specifically highlights the following points:

  • The data transfers in question were conducted in violation of Article 46(1) of the GDPR.
  • Under these circumstances, the data transfers should be suspended.

The European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”) adopted its decision on April 13, 2023. According to this decision:

  • Meta Ireland is required to suspend any future transfers of personal data to the US within five (5) months from the date of receiving the DPC's decision.
  • An administrative fine of 1.2 billion euros has been imposed.
  • Meta Ireland is obligated to cease any unlawful processing activities, including the storage of personal data belonging to EU/EEA users that were transferred to the US in violation of the GDPR. Meta Ireland must ensure compliance with the provisions outlined in Chapter V of the GDPR within six (6) months from the date of receiving the DPC's decision.

You can access the DPC announcement regarding the decision here.

You can find the full text of the mentioned decision here.

Kind regards,

Zumbul Attorneys-at-Law

info@zumbul.av.tr