Facebook's Meta fined in Australia for misleading consumers

A federal judge on Wednesday found the two subsidiaries engaged in behaviour liable to mislead the public by failing to adequately disclose what users' data would be used for, including for Meta's commercial purposes. — Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP)

SYDNEY: Facebook's parent company Meta was fined 20mil Australian dollars (RM61.6mil) for misleading consumers, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Wednesday.

A federal court ordered Meta subsidiaries Facebook Israel and Onavo Inc to each pay US$10mil (RM45.5mil) to Australia "for engaging in conduct liable to mislead in breach of the Australian Consumer Law," said the consumer watchdog, which brought the action.