Despite the hefty fine, experts doubt that it will bring about any fundamental changes in Meta’s privacy practices. Johnny Ryan from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties commented that a billion-euro penalty is inconsequential to a company that generates far more revenue by disregarding regulations. Max Schrems, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating that the fine could have been even higher considering Meta’s deliberate violation of the law over a decade.
Meta responded to the fine by deeming it “unjustified and unnecessary” in a blog post written by Meta’s President for Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, and Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Newstead. The company emphasized that it is one of “thousands” of firms employing similar legal frameworks for data transfers. Meta intends to appeal the decisions and seek a stay from the courts to pause implementation deadlines, citing the potential harm to the millions of people who use Facebook daily.
