There was no customized advertising consent… Google Meta fined 100 billion won

<Anchor>

Sometimes, when I go to Google or Facebook, the content I searched for before suddenly appears as an advertisement.

For example, if you find out about a trip to Japan on one search site, then strangely enough, you'll find a corresponding ad in another place.

This customized advertisement is possible because other sites and apps are also collecting user information by companies.

However, after criticism that this method violated personal information, the authorities launched an investigation, and as a result, a fine of 100 billion won was imposed on Google and Meta.

We will continue the story after watching the coverage of reporter Jeong Seong-jin.

<Reporter>

A customized advertisement that shows my interests as they are.

How did you know, it makes me feel afraid.

[Kim Bum-gi / Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do: It's a little scary.

Anyway, you're taking my personal information.

It feels like they're watching everything I'm doing...

.]

Google and Meta create 'personalized advertisements' by collecting information about what users search for or use, not only in their own apps, but also on other websites and apps.

On Facebook and Instagram, 98% of meta users and 82% of Google users consented to data collection.

The question is whether users know exactly and consented to the collection of information.

The Personal Information Protection Commission, which has been investigating this for over a year, has concluded that explicit consent has not been obtained in advance.

Google did not clearly inform the collection of information and set the default to consent while hiding the settings screen and so on.

Meta put provisions in the full text of the data policy, which is several dozen A4 pages, making it difficult to recognize at a glance.

[Ahn Hye-young / Dongjak-gu, Seoul: Since it is not clearly stated and I did not confirm it accurately, I think that I actually agreed.]

Google manually customized customized advertisements when registering as a member in Europe The fact that it is providing settings, etc. was also suggested as the basis for the lack of domestic consent procedures.

The Personal Information Commission imposed a fine of 69.2 billion won on Google and 30.8 billion won on Meta, along with notifying users accurately and obtaining consent again.

(Video coverage: Lee Sang-hak, Video editing: Lee Seung-yeol)

---

<Anchor>

[Reporter Jeong Seong-jin: First of all, it is the position that both of them followed the law and followed the legal consent process.

They also stated that they simply receive information and that the subject who needs consent is the app operator that installed the information collection tool.

However, even overseas, Google and Meta are stating that the consent of personal information for customized advertisements such as personal information belongs to Google and Meta.

In 2019, France imposed a fine of 50 million euros, or 70 billion won at the current exchange rate, for failing to properly meet the consent procedures that Google did not agree to.]

[Reporter Jeong Seong-jin: Meta has stated that it can file an administrative lawsuit now.

This disposition was the first domestic sanction for customized advertising, and the largest fine for violating the Personal Information Act.

However, since both Google and Meta are companies with more than 90% of ad revenue, the industry atmosphere now is that they will actively respond.

An official from the Personal Information Commission also said that they are preparing for administrative litigation fraud.

Previously, in 2020, the Personal Information Commission imposed a fine for providing third-party personal information to the meta

[Reporter Jeong Seong-jin: Since Google and Facebook provide so many different functions, it was not easy for me to find this procedure too.

What you see now is a Google-related screen.

In both Google and Facebook, go to the right screen and go to Personal Account Management.

Search for data and privacy protection for Google and My Facebook information for Facebook, web and app activity or external activity, and find these items to revoke or cancel information consent.

Previously, a class action lawsuit was filed by a domestic civic group about Facebook providing personal information to a third party.

It remains to be seen whether a class action lawsuit will be filed in relation to this customized advertisement.]