Meta has been fined $101.5 million by the EU for a 2019 data breach that compromised Facebook passwords.

The Data Protection Commission of Ireland has made a significant move by imposing a fine of 91 million euros on Meta, the parent company of Facebook. This hefty penalty is a result of a breach that occurred in 2019 and exposed the passwords of millions of users on the popular social media platform.

The Irish regulator's decision comes after a thorough inquiry into Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which was launched back in April 2019. This investigation was initiated after Meta revealed that it had unintentionally stored certain passwords of social media users in a vulnerable format on its internal systems.

Graham Doyle, the deputy commissioner at the DPC, highlighted the severity of storing passwords in plaintext, stating that it goes against the widely accepted practice of ensuring data protection. He emphasized that passwords are sensitive information and their exposure can lead to unauthorized access to users' social media accounts.

The incident was first brought to light by Meta in March 2019, and the company ensured that these passwords were not accessible to external parties. However, the Irish regulator emphasized the need for data controllers to implement appropriate security measures when handling personal information, in accordance with the principles of integrity and confidentiality outlined in the GDPR.

The DPC also stressed the importance of evaluating and mitigating risks associated with data processing, especially when it comes to sensitive information like user passwords. This decision serves as a reminder for companies to prioritize the security of their users' data.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time Meta has been penalized by the DPC. In March 2022, the company was fined 17 million euros for a security breach that occurred in 2018, affecting 30 million Facebook users. However, the recent breach in 2019 has had a much larger impact, exposing the passwords of hundreds of millions of users.

In conclusion, the Irish regulator's decision to impose a hefty fine on Meta serves as a stern reminder for companies to prioritize data security and adhere to the principles outlined in the GDPR. Users' privacy and protection should be of utmost importance, and measures must be taken to prevent such breaches from occurring in the future.

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