Microsoft Stashes Nearly Half a Billion in Case LinkedIn Data Drama Hits

Microsoft has warned investors about a "non-public" draft decision by Irish regulators against LinkedIn for allegedly dodgy ad data practices, explaining it had set aside some cash to pay off any potential fine. From a report: How much? Oh, a mere $425 million. The software giant said the funds were connected to a 2018 investigation by the Irish Data Protection Commission (IDPC) looking into whether LinkedIn's targeted advertising practices violated the the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). At the time of the complaint, the 2016 law had been recently implemented and the watchdog was just settling into its role as EU overlord of judging data practices of the tech giants. Microsoft denies it broke any GDPR rules and said it "intends to defend itself vigorously in this matter."

It wasn't stash

[DarkRookie2]

That money was already in the Cocaine and Hookers lounge couches.

Re:

[saloomy]

The violations are against Irish citizens, yet the government takes the cash. That is why these fines are so lofty, they couldn't care about the people actually harmed by these Ad policies. They just want a pay day. This cash will vanish into thin air and be squandered by the bureaucrats with too much authority to levy fines.

Re:

[awwshit]

The Hookers found the loose change and grabbed it all on day one. She wasn't reaching for your junk, she was down in the cushions looking for earning.

Microsoft doing criminal stuff?

[gweihir]

Who would have expected that?

Petty cash

[gosso920]

That's not enough to move MSFT even a quarter of a point.

Surely using LinkedIn is giving up privacy

[greytree]

People on LinkedIn are basically putting THEIR ENTIRE EMPLOYMENT HISTORY in the open.

And now they are shouting "Respect mah privasah!"

Hmm.

Re:

[gweihir]

You seem to miss the part where the EU regulator made that decision. They do not need complaints from citizens to become active. They just need indication of illegal activity. And they found it.

Bull you know what

[vladoshi]

A nation that sells low corporate tax and does not even collect the money, is going to fine one of its pretend "resident businesses"? Pretend American business headquarters and draining the EU coffers under false pretences are all Ireland has.

Re:

[awwshit]

Half of a billion dollars buys a lot of Guinness. Gotta refill the coffers once in a while, lest the Guinness stops flowing.

Yeah, we believe you Microsoft ~

[MrL0G1C]

Microsoft denies it broke any GDPR rules

The fact that they set aside half a billion speaks louder than words AKA they know they broke the law or they wouldn't have set that money aside.

Deplatforming Presidential Candidates

[bill_mcgonigle]

Both Microsoft and Facebook have now banned the accounts of registered Presidential candidates on pretext.
And Hoffman may have used Linkedin resources to aid and enable the EJC Get-Trump bill of attainder.
Microsoft is being prudent and half-truthful.

They did nothing wrong....

[0xG]

They did nothing wrong, there will be no fine, the half-billion is just for lawyers.