EU privacy regulator fines LinkedIn $356 million

Simona Mazzeo
Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Dublin (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Union privacy regulator has imposed a fine on Microsoft’s professional networking platform LinkedIn over its targeted advertising methods.

The administrative fines, which are worth almost $335 million at current exchange rates, have been given by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The regulator discovered a raft of breaches, including beaches to the lawfulness, righteousness and transparency of its data processing in this area.

How did LinkedIn breach EU data protection regulations?

The GDPR demands that the use of people’s information have a proper legal foundation. In this case, the justifications LinkedIn had depended upon to run its tracking ads business were found to be frail. It also did not properly notify users about its uses of their data, per the DPC’s decision.

LinkedIn had aimed to claim (variously) “consent”-, “legitimate interests”- and “contractual necessity” based on legal grounds for processing people’s information when received directly and/or from third parties to follow and profile its users for behavioural advertising. However, the DPC discovered none were valid. LinkedIn also failed to concede with the GDPR principles of transparency and fairness.

Remarking in a statement, DPC deputy commissioner Graham Doyle stated: “The lawfulness of processing is a fundamental aspect of data protection law and 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.”

The extent of the sanction catapults the professional social network into a mid-table place in the top ten most significant GDPR penalties on Big Tech. And while this is not the first time LinkedIn has been hit with regional data protection violations, it is certainly its most powerful sanction to date. The case against LinkedIn was created with a complaint in France in 2018 by the digital rights non-profit La Quadrature Du Net. The country’s data protection authority then gave the complaint to the DPC, on account of its position as a lead oversight body for Microsoft’s GDPR adherence.

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Simona Mazzeo is a journalist at Brussels Morning News. She is covering European Parliament, European Council, European Commission & Italy News. She is a law graduate and lawyer residing in Agropoli, has carved out a multifaceted career dedicated to justice and social advocacy. She actively serves as a delegated councilor for the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Bar Association of Vallo della Lucania, championing fair and equal representation within the legal system. Recognized for her expertise and empathy, Simona is qualified for registration in the list of Special Curators of minors in civil and criminal matters at the Court of Vallo della Lucania, ensuring the rights and interests of vulnerable children are protected throughout legal proceedings. Beyond her legal practice, Simona demonstrates a strong commitment to social causes. She is a founding member of the Free Lawyer Movement, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing legal assistance to those who cannot afford it. Additionally, she leverages her knowledge and passion for social justice as a non-professional journalist, contributing insightful and informative pieces on relevant legal and societal issues. Through her diverse endeavors, Simona Mazzeo exemplifies dedication to legal excellence, social responsibility, and a fervent belief in equal access to justice for all.
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