Italy slaps Facebook with 7 million euros fine over improper data use

• Facebook was earlier fined 5 million Euros for not informing users properly about data collection 
• Facebook was also asked to publish an amended statement on the homepage of its website for Italy
• The 7 million fine slapped today was over inaction on 2018 ruling

ROME: Italy's antitrust body announced on Wednesday that it has slapped Facebook with a 7 million euros ($8.5 million) fine for not following through on the regulator's request to correct improper commercial practices in the group’s treatment of user data.

Facebook was not immediately available for comment.

In November 2018, the antitrust body ruled that Facebook had not informed users properly about its collection and use of data.

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It fined the US company 5 million euros ($5.5 million) and asked it to publish an amended statement on the homepage of its website for Italy, on the Facebook app and on the personal page of each registered Italian user.

“The current investigation has proved that ...(the company has) not published the amended statement and has not stopped the established unfair practice,” the regulator said in its statement.

Given the economic value of the data for Facebook, it said users should be put in a position to decide whether it should be used.