Meta Platforms received a significant fine on Tuesday for the alleged unauthorized collection and distribution of user data. South Korea’s privacy watchdog fined the social media giant 21.6 billion won ($15 million) after concluding that Meta illegally harvested and distributed sensitive information about Facebook users.

The fine adds to ongoing scrutiny of Meta’s data practices as regulators around the world step up surveillance of privacy breaches.

Meta-user data covers sensitive personal details

Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) found that Meta collected and distributed sensitive personal details without proper user consent, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Between July 2018 and March 2022, Meta collected data on 980,000 Facebook users, including information about their political views, religion and sexual orientation. The watchdog concluded that Meta shared this data with about 4,000 advertisers, violating privacy protections that require explicit user consent for such personal information.

In addition, the the agency reported a security breach. The hackers accessed and leaked the information of about 10 South Korean users. This failure to protect personal data has further intensified scrutiny of Meta’s data processing practices.

South Korean privacy regulations provide strict safeguards on data related to personal beliefs and social orientation. Companies handling such information must obtain direct consent from users.

The huge fine follows a series of similar actions by regulators around the world, underscoring the growing importance of user privacy in digital spaces. While Meta has faced sanctions in the past, the magnitude of this fine reflects a growing intolerance of privacy violations. Governments globally are tightening regulations to protect users’ private information, with technology industry face increased liability for breach of privacy.

the PIPCs the investigation also revealed that Meta has refused users’ requests to access or delete personal information. In addition, the watchdog noted a security breach affecting the data of about ten users, exacerbating concerns about the company’s handling of sensitive information.

Meta under pressure amid intensifying regulatory scrutiny

The user meta data fine comes amid increased regulatory pressure for stricter data practices on social media platforms. Privacy experts say the penalty signals broader problems with the company’s data policies, particularly around sensitive user information.

Meta, which owns popular platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, is under increased control from several countries.