Meta was fined by the European Union (EU) by €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) following a privacy breach by transferring personal data of Facebook (FB) users to servers in the United States.
Issued by the Irish Data Protection Commission, it is the largest fine imposed under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) privacy law.
The previous record €746 million ($805.7 million) was levied against Amazon in 2021.
GDPR sets out the rules that companies must follow in order to move user data off the block.
In addition, Meta has also been ordered to stop processing the personal data of European users in the United States within six months.
EU regulators claim that Meta's infringements are particularly serious as they involve systematic, repeated and continuous transfers.
The large fine is a reminder to organizations that serious violations of the law can have serious consequences.
Responding to the allegations, Meta said the issue stems from a legal conflict between US regulations on access to data and European citizens' privacy rights.
As a result, it will appeal the decision, adding that there will be no immediate disruption to FB in Europe.
