LinkedIn, a subsidiary of Microsoft, has been fined 310 million euros (approximately $335 million) by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner for violations related to targeted advertising practices. This decision highlights the regulator's commitment to enforcing data protection laws in the European Union, particularly regarding the processing of personal data without a valid legal basis.

Graham Doyle, Deputy Commissioner of the DPC, emphasized that such actions infringe upon individuals' fundamental rights to data protection. Microsoft had previously estimated a financial charge of around $425 million for potential penalties from the Irish regulator concerning its LinkedIn operations. This fine is a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of major tech companies' data handling practices in Europe.