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LinkedIn Hit with 310 million Euro Fine for Data Privacy Violations from Irish Watchdog

The logo for LinkedIn Corporation, a social networking website for people in professional occupations, is pictured in Mountain View, California February 6, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
The logo for LinkedIn Corporation, a social networking website for people in professional occupations, is pictured in Mountain View, California February 6, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
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LinkedIn Hit with 310 million Euro Fine for Data Privacy Violations from Irish Watchdog

The logo for LinkedIn Corporation, a social networking website for people in professional occupations, is pictured in Mountain View, California February 6, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
The logo for LinkedIn Corporation, a social networking website for people in professional occupations, is pictured in Mountain View, California February 6, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith

European Union regulators slapped LinkedIn on Thursday with a 310 million euro ($335 million) fine for violations of the bloc's stringent data privacy rules.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission reprimanded the Microsoft-owned professional social networking site over concerns about the “lawfulness, fairness and transparency” of its personal data processing for advertising purposes, according to The AP.

The Dublin-based watchdog is LinkedIn's lead privacy regulator in the 27-nation EU because that's where the company's European headquarters is based.

The watchdog said it carried out an investigation that found LinkedIn did not have a lawful basis to gather data so it could target users with online ads, which is a breach of the privacy rules known as General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. It ordered LinkedIn to comply with the rules.

Processing personal data “without an appropriate legal basis is a clear and serious violation” of the right to data protection in the EU, Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement.

LinkedIn said it that while it believes it has been “in compliance” with the rules, it's working to ensure its “ad practices” meet the requirements.

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IMF Underlines Saudi Arabia’s Leadership in Data Centers, Hails Personal Data Protection Law

The IMF commended the Kingdom’s issuance of the Personal Data Protection Law, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strong data governance and privacy. (Getty Images/AFP)
The IMF commended the Kingdom’s issuance of the Personal Data Protection Law, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strong data governance and privacy. (Getty Images/AFP)
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IMF Underlines Saudi Arabia’s Leadership in Data Centers, Hails Personal Data Protection Law

The IMF commended the Kingdom’s issuance of the Personal Data Protection Law, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strong data governance and privacy. (Getty Images/AFP)
The IMF commended the Kingdom’s issuance of the Personal Data Protection Law, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strong data governance and privacy. (Getty Images/AFP)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) underscored Saudi Arabia's leading position in the number of data centers among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, reflecting the Kingdom’s significant progress in developing digital infrastructure.

This advancement is closely linked to rapid growth in the fields of data and artificial intelligence, led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the national entity responsible for development, processing, and regulatory efforts in collaboration with relevant sectors.

In its recent study titled “Digital Transformation in the Gulf Cooperation Council Economies”, the IMF praised Saudi Arabia’s establishment of SDAIA as an independent authority in 2019 and highlighted the launch of the National Strategy for Data and AI.

The IMF also commended the Kingdom’s issuance of the Personal Data Protection Law, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strong data governance and privacy. The law seeks to create a dynamic regulatory environment that keeps pace with technological developments while safeguarding individual and institutional rights in line with global standards.

As part of its strategic initiatives, SDAIA is developing and operating sustainable data centers that meet international benchmarks and are certified by the Uptime Institute—the global authority on data center classifications. These facilities are also recognized for their energy efficiency, featuring low power usage effectiveness (PUE) ratings.

The IMF further noted the Kingdom’s success in launching a series of digital platforms that have accelerated progress across key sectors. These platforms have contributed to improving quality of life, enhancing service reliability and accessibility, and advancing the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.