The listings featured on this site are from companies from which this site receives compensation. This influences: Appearance, order, and manner in which these listings are presented.
Disclosure:
Professional Reviews

vpnMentor contains reviews that are written by our community reviewers. These take into consideration the reviewers’ independent and professional examination of the products/services.

Ownership

vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, ZenMate, Private Internet Access, and Intego, which may be reviewed on this website.

Affiliate Commissions Advertising

vpnMentor contains reviews that follow the strict reviewing standards, including ethical standards, that we have adopted. Such standards require that each review will take into consideration the independent, honest and professional examination of the reviewer. That being said, we may earn a commission when a user completes an action using our links, at no additional cost to them. On listicle pages, we rank vendors based on a system that prioritizes the reviewer’s examination of each service, but also considers feedback received from our readers and our commercial agreements with providers.

Reviews Guidelines

The reviews published on vpnMentor are written by community reviewers that examine the products according to our strict reviewing standards. Such standards ensure that each review prioritizes the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, and takes into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings we publish may also take into consideration the affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website.

Meta Fined $1.3 Billion for GDPR Violations

Meta Fined $1.3 Billion for GDPR Violations
Zane Kennedy Published on 25th May 2023 Cybersecurity Researcher

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been hit by a record-breaking $1.3 billion fine from European Union (EU) data protection regulators for its improper transfer of European Facebook user information to the United States.

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued a binding dispute resolution, ordering Meta to bring its data transfers in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and rectify all instances of unlawfully stored and processed data within six months.

The EDPB deemed Meta's infringement as severe, since it concerns systematic and continuous transfers of user data. Andrea Jelinek, EDPB chair, stated “Facebook has millions of users in Europe, so the volume of personal data transferred is massive. The unprecedented fine is a strong signal to organisations that serious infringements have far-reaching consequences”.

Under the decision, Meta has also been given five months to suspend any future transfer of European Facebook users' data to the US. However, the order does not apply to the platforms Instagram and WhatsApp, which are also owned by Meta.

Meta responded to the ruling stating their intention to appeal, labeling the fine as "unjustified and unnecessary." The company argues that a fundamental conflict of law exists between US government rules on data access and European privacy rights. Meta's executives, Nick Clegg, and Jennifer Newstead, expressed concerns that restrictions on global data transfers could fragment the internet and hinder the operation of thousands of businesses and other organizations.

The penalty imposed on Meta by the EDPB beats the previous record fine of $888 million issued to Amazon in 2021. However, experts remain skeptical about its impact on Meta's privacy practices, emphasizing that the company's substantial revenues may render the penalty inconsequential.

The EU's decision also carries significant implications for other tech companies, potentially setting a precedent for future enforcement actions. The Irish Data Protection Commission, which has fined Meta more than any other tech firm, has ten additional ongoing investigations into the social media giant's platforms.

About the Author

Zane is a Cybersecurity Researcher and Writer at vpnMentor. His extensive experience in the tech and cybersecurity industries provides readers with accurate and trustworthy news stories and articles. He aims to help individuals protect themselves through informative content and awareness of cybersecurity's crucial role in today's digital landscape.