Google and Meta can't seem to catch a break from legal battles.
The South Korean government has recently fined the two tech giants a combined fine of approximately $71.8 million after finding they violated the country's data privacy law.
You may remember that Meta is currently facing an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission in 2020, while Google is handling an antitrust lawsuit of its own in Texas over ad dominance, per CNET.
Google, Meta South Korean Fine Details
The South Korean government, through its Personal Information Commission, mentioned in an announcement that it is imposing Google and Meta with a fine of about ₩100 billion or around $71.8 million in total for violating the country's Personal Information Protection Act.
According to the Personal Information Protection Committee (PIPC), the two tech giants were found to have been collecting personal information from users who have been visiting their websites without their consent, per Tech Crunch.
Google was specifically named in the South Korean watchdog due to it not informing users of its collection and use of other companies' behavioral information when they signed up for its service. The search giant also set the default choice of users permitting Google to collect their information to "agree" while covering up other options available through the setting screen.
The PIPC also added that the two companies collected information from users who use their apps for customized advertisements.
As a result, Google will need to pay the South Korean government ₩69.2 billion ($49.7 million), while Meta will need to pay ₩30.8 billion ($22.1 million).
The PIPC added that the fine it imposed on Google and Meta is the largest penalty the South Korean government imposed on any company that violated its personal information protection laws. It is also the first sanction on the collection and use of behavioral information on online customized advertising platforms.
The South Korean government is not the only one imposing fines on the two tech giants for violating data privacy laws. The French data protection watchdog, the National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (CNIL), issued its first General Data Protection Regulation fine of $57 million on Google for violating it, per CNBC.
Google And Meta's Reaction
A Google Spokesperson mentioned that the search giant disagrees with the PIPC's findings and that it will be reviewing the "full written decision" once it receives it, per Reuters.
"We 've always demonstrated our commitment to making ongoing updates that give users control and transparency, while providing the most helpful products possible," the Google spokesperson said. "We remain committed to engaging with the PIPC to protect the privacy of South Korean users."
Meta is also of the same mind, with its spokesperson saying that it does not agree with the South Korean data privacy watchdog's decision. They also mentioned that Meta is confident that it is working with its clients in a "legally compliant way" that adheres to local regulations.
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