South Korea fines Google and Meta over privacy violations

Yang Cheongsam, an investigation and co-ordination bureau director-general of the Personal Information Protection Commission speaks at the Government Complex in Seoul, South Korea (Shin Hyun-woo/Yonhap/AP)

South Korea’s privacy watchdog has fined Google and Meta a combined 100 billion won (€71.1bn) for tracking consumers’ online behaviour without their consent and using their data for targeted advertisements.

South Korea’s Personal Information and Protection Commission said it fined Google 69.2 billion won (€50 million) and Meta 30.8 billion won (€22 million) after a meeting where officials agreed the companies’ business practices might cause serious privacy infringements.