Seoul: South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission has levied a historic fine of 100 billion won (US$71.9 million) on tech giants Google and Meta Platforms due to violations related to the unauthorized collection of personal information.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this fine represents the highest financial penalty ever imposed under the nation's personal information protection law. The commission's decision underscores the growing regulatory scrutiny on international tech companies operating in South Korea, particularly concerning data privacy and user consent.

The fines come amid increasing global attention on how companies handle user data, with South Korea joining other nations in taking robust action to ensure compliance with privacy standards. Google's and Meta's practices were found to be in violation of the country's stringent regulations, which emphasize the necessity of obtaining user consent before gathering personal data.

This landmark decision by the Personal Information Protection Commission highlights South Korea's commitment to enforcing data privacy laws and protecting its citizens' personal information in the digital age. The substantial fines serve as a warning to other companies that non-compliance with privacy regulations will result in severe financial consequences.