The South Korean units of Google and Apple were among the firms which were fined for allegedly violating a law on location data collection, the telecom regulator said on Wednesday.
Google's Korean unit was ordered to pay a fine of 3 million won (USD 2,180) for allegedly violating a clause on disclosing its policy on location data, as per the details shared by the Korean Communications Commission (KCC), Yonhap news agency report states.
Apple's Korean unit was also ordered to pay a fine of 210 million won (USD 1,53,444) for allegedly collecting location data without the user’s consent, which is violating the clause on disclosing its policy on location data and others, the commission said.
The commission further imposed fines on 188 firms, which includes the Korean units of Google and Apple, for violating the Act on the Protection and Use of Location Information.
The administrative measures came as a result of a regular inspection of companies handling location information conducted under the revised Location Information Protection Act in 2022.
KCC Chairman Kim Hong-il said. "Location information is a key resource to improve users' convenience and a foundation for the growth of innovative industries, but we need to consider the protection of individuals' privacy and social security in using the information.”
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Inputs from IANS
