Italy fines Facebook 7 million euros for data protection practices

Italian competition authority AGCM today announced a new € 7 million fine against Facebook for unfair data protection practices.

According to AGCM, the US social media giant is not adequately informing its users about how it collects and uses its data for commercial purposes.

In 2018, AGCM had already fined Facebook five million euros, accusing it of using unfair business practices, and at the time ordered it to take steps to correct them.

The fine now imposed was decided by the Italian regulator since Facebook ignored orders to change practices, AGCM explained in a statement.

“There is still no quick and clear information about the collection and use of user data for commercial purposes”, justified the regulator.

And he continued: "It is information that the consumer needs to know to decide if he wants to join the service, taking into account the economic value for Facebook of the data provided by the user".

These data represent "the payment for the use of the service" of the American technological giant, AGCM recalled.