Meta, Affiliated Subsidiaries Hit With $2.8 Bn In GDPR Fines Over Past Four Years

Meta and its associated subsidiaries find themselves burdened with fines totaling USD 2.8 billion over the last four years, in the wake of multiple General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) violations. The most significant penalty, a hefty USD 1.3 billion, was slapped on Meta Platforms Ireland Limited in May 2023, citing inadequate legal grounds for data processing.

These fines, according to data compiled by Finbold as of 17 January, paint a concerning picture for Meta, with nearly half of the penalties, about 48 per cent, stemming from this single colossal fine imposed in May 2023. 

Other instances include a USD 245.25 million fine on WhatsApp Ireland in September 2021, a USD 65.4 million penalty on Facebook Ireland in December 2021 and an USD 18.53 million fine on Meta Platforms Ireland Limited in March 2022.

Additionally, WhatsApp Ireland faced a USD 5.9 million fine in January 2023, while Facebook Germany GmbH had to settle a modest USD 55,590 fine back in December 2019. These financial blows underscore the heightened regulatory scrutiny surrounding data handling practices and, notably, the insistence on storing data in the country of origin rather than allowing unrestricted global movement to data centres.