A PYMNTS Company

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission Begins Inquiry Into Facebook

By  |  April 20, 2021

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) announced last week that it has started an inquiry into Facebook regarding a possible contravention of European privacy regulations, CNBC reported.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The Irish data protection regulator stated its inquiry is concentrated on news that a data set of 533 million users of the social media platform throughout the globe was made public through a digital hacker site. Facebook, whose European headquarters are stationed in Dublin, Ireland, stated it is “cooperating fully” with the DPC and noted that the matter “relates to features that make it easier for people to find and connect with friends on our services,” CNBC reported.

    After speaking to representatives from Facebook Ireland, Ireland’s DPC stated it believes Facebook may have breached one or more laws, adding that the company may still be breaching certain provisions.

    “These features are common to many apps and we look forward to explaining them and the protections we have put in place,” a Facebook spokesperson told CNBC via email.

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.