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Instagram is the focus of the Irish Data Protection Authority
Photo: Dado Ruvic/ REUTERS
The social network Instagram has been fined 405 million euros in Ireland.
As the Reuters news agency reported, citing the Irish data protection authority, the reason for the fine was the handling of data from children and young people.
Accordingly, underage users between the ages of 13 and 17 were allowed to operate business accounts on the photo and video platform.
These would have made it possible to publish telephone numbers or e-mail addresses.
Instagram is part of the Meta Platforms group, which also owns the Internet platform Facebook and the messenger service WhatsApp.
Meta said it wanted to challenge the Irish decision.
Instagram also changed its settings to keep teens' data private more than a year ago.
Ireland has jurisdiction over the matter because Meta, like other major US tech companies like Apple and Google, have their European Union headquarters there.
Heavy penalty for WhatsApp
Further proceedings are pending against Meta subsidiaries in Ireland.
Last year, WhatsApp was fined €225 million for failing to comply with EU data protection rules.
The Irish authorities intend to publish details of their Instagram decision in the coming week.
dam/Reuters