The Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), the lead privacy regulator for the European Union, has imposed a fine of 310 million euros ($335 million) on LinkedIn, Microsoft’s professional networking platform, due to violations related to targeted advertising practices, Reuters reported.
LinkedIn acknowledged the need to align its advertising strategies with regulatory expectations. It stated, “While we believe we have been in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we are working to ensure our ad practices meet this decision by the IDPC’s deadline.”
Previously, Microsoft had indicated that it anticipated a potential fine of around $425 million from the Irish regulator, reflecting the ongoing scrutiny of data privacy practices among major tech companies.
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The DPC oversees compliance for many top U.S. tech firms operating in the EU. “The processing of personal data without an appropriate legal basis is a clear and serious violation of a data subjects’ fundamental right to data protection,” DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement.
This significant penalty underscores the EU’s commitment to enforcing data protection regulations and holds companies accountable for their handling of personal information, particularly in the digital advertising space. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, LinkedIn and other tech giants may face additional challenges in navigating compliance within the evolving landscape of data privacy.