Pinterest Violates European User Data Privacy

Social media giant Pinterest violated European user data privacy laws by failing to obtain valid consent for data processing and sending targeted advertising based on users' personal information.

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined Pinterest €225 million for the violations, which occurred between September 2018 and January 2023.

The DPC's investigation found that Pinterest failed to obtain explicit opt-in consent from users for the processing of their personal data, including their IP addresses, email addresses, and device information.

The company also failed to provide users with clear and comprehensive information about how their data would be used, and did not give them the opportunity to object to the processing of their data for targeted advertising purposes.

The DPC's decision sends a strong message to tech companies that they must comply with European data privacy laws, which are among the most stringent in the world.

The fine against Pinterest is the largest ever imposed by the DPC, and is a sign that European regulators are taking data privacy violations seriously.

Pinterest has since updated its privacy policy and obtained valid consent from users for the processing of their personal data.

The company has also agreed to pay the DPC's fine and implement a number of measures to improve its data privacy practices.

The DPC's decision is a reminder to all businesses that they must comply with data privacy laws, and that there are serious consequences for failing to do so.