South Korea has fined Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, 21.62 billion won (approximately $15.67 million) for illegally gathering sensitive user information and sharing it with advertisers without consent, according to the country's data protection authority.

The investigation revealed that Meta had collected personal data from nearly 980,000 South Korean Facebook users, including sensitive details on religious beliefs, political opinions, and sexual orientation, without obtaining explicit user consent. South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission announced the fine, stating that Meta's actions violated the nation's data protection laws, which mandate user agreement before processing such private information.

In their findings, regulators indicated that Meta used data points, including users’ page likes and ad interactions, to deliver targeted ads focusing on sensitive topics such as LGBTQ+ issues and North Korean defectors. This data was reportedly shared with around 4,000 advertisers, allowing them to tailor content based on these themes.

The commission also ordered Meta to establish clear legal grounds for handling sensitive information, improve data safety measures, and promptly address users' requests to access their data. Officials highlighted the importance of the ruling, emphasizing that global companies like Meta must comply with South Korea’s data protection laws when dealing with sensitive user information.

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