Facebook faces fine of £500k from UK data watchdog

Facebook is expected to get slapped with a fine of £500,000 for data breaches.

The fine, which is the maximum allowed, relates to Facebook’s failure to ensure Cambridge Analytica deleted users’ data.

The Information Commissioner’s Office said it will be taking criminal action against Cambridge Analytica’s defunct parent company, SCL Elections.

Kyle Taylor, director of campaigning group Fair Vote UK told BBC, “Under new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) laws, the ICO could fine Facebook £479m.

“Unfortunately, because they had to follow old data protection laws, they were only able to fine them the maximum of £500,000. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Facebook said it would respond to the report soon.