Facebook can be fined $ 1.66 billion for a data leak of 50 million users

The Ireland Data Protection Commission, where the Facebook European headquarters is located, can finish the company for a amount of 4 percent of global revenue, or about $ 1.66 billion, due to a data from a leak of more than 50 million users around the world. About this writes The Wall Street Journal.

The commission is currently investigating the incident.

If the commission decides to finish Facebook, this will be the first such case in history. The law that allows the EU authorities to fine the companies by 4 percent of the general revenue if their measures to protect user data are recognized as insufficient, entered into force only this year and has not yet been applied.

On September 28, Facebook was subjected to powerful cyber attack, as a result of which almost 50 million accounts were under threat. The attackers stole access keys, allowing not to enter the login and password at each entrance to the social network. After that, hackers were able to gain control over accounts. The company changed access keys to 90 million accounts. Their owners had to back up. Other users experienced problems with access to the social network as a result of the attack.