In a major setback for Microsoft-owned LinkedIn, the professional social network has been slapped with a hefty €310 million fine by Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) for privacy violations related to its tracking ads business. The fine, equivalent to around $335 million, is one of the largest penalties issued under the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The DPC found LinkedIn guilty of breaching GDPR principles, including lawfulness, fairness, and transparency, in its data processing for behavioral advertising. The regulator ruled that LinkedIn's justifications for processing user data were invalid, and the company failed to properly inform users about its data uses.

This significant sanction marks a major blow to LinkedIn's reputation and underscores the importance of complying with EU data protection laws. The company has been given three months to bring its European operations into compliance with the GDPR.