ISTANBUL: Turkey’s competition board fined Meta Platforms 1.2 billion lira ($37.20 million) on Wednesday after two separate investigations on data-sharing in its Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads platforms.
The board launched an investigation into Meta in December over a possible violation of competition law by linking its social media platforms Threads and Instagram. In March, it imposed an interim measure on Meta meant to hinder data sharing between those two platforms.
Meta said last month it would temporarily shut down Threads in Turkey to comply with the interim order.
On Wednesday, the board it imposed a fine of 898 million lira for the compliance process and the investigations launched into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. An additional 336 million lira fine was added for a separate investigation into Threads.
Users will be able to merge personal data between Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp only after they consent. They will be able to change their settings later, if needed, using an “accounts centre” on the platforms, the board ruled.
#News – #Turkey imposes a #fine of over $37m against #Meta following two open investigations for violation of #competition laws due to #data sharing between #Facebook, #WhatsApp, #Instagram and #Threads.https://t.co/0ep9eQa1SE pic.twitter.com/Lc9qvHal38
— 🇹🇷 🇬🇧 Turkey Türkiye (@Anatolia_Today) May 8, 2024
In January, Turkey fined Meta $160,000 per day for failing to provide sufficient documentation as part of another previous investigation. It also imposed a daily fine of 4.8 million lira per day in March over a notification message about data-sharing.
Both those penalties ended May 3.
In 2022, the board also decided to fine Meta 346.72 million lira (Approx 11 million USD) for violating competition law.
(REUTERS)
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