EU levies record $1.3 billion fine against Meta for violating user privacy laws, orders halt to data transfers

The EU fined Facebook parent company Meta a record $1.3 billion for illegally transferring European users' data to the U.S.
Meta must suspend all future transfers of data from the EU to the U.S. within five months and delete data already transferred within six months.
Meta said it will appeal the ruling, hoping a new EU-U.S. data pact will supersede it, allowing business to continue unaffected.
The case stems from a complaint filed in 2013 claiming U.S. law didn't protect data from government surveillance once transferred stateside.
The ruling could force Meta to withdraw Facebook and Instagram from the EU if upheld, costing the company one-fifth of its revenue.