Ireland’s data watchdog has hit LinkedIn with a massive €310 million fine for how it handled users’ personal information for advertising purposes, one of the largest privacy fines issued in Ireland to date.
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) found that LinkedIn Ireland broke privacy laws in how it processed user data for behavioral analysis and targeted advertising. The company’s European headquarters, based in Dublin, was investigated following a complaint from a French privacy group.
“Processing personal data without an appropriate legal basis is a clear and serious violation of people’s fundamental right to data protection,” said DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle.
The investigation, which began in August 2018, looked at both information users directly shared with LinkedIn and data the company gathered from third-party partners about its members.
According to The Journal, the decision includes:
- A €310 million fine
- A formal reprimand
- An order for LinkedIn to change how it handles user data
LinkedIn responded to the ruling, saying: “While we believe we have been in compliance with GDPR, we are working to ensure our ad practices meet this decision by the DPC’s deadline.”
The fine comes as part of broader European efforts to protect user privacy, with Ireland’s DPC playing a key role as many tech giants have their European bases in Dublin.