Italy’s competition watchdog said on Wednesday it had fined Facebook 7 million euros (USD 8.5 million) for not complying with a request by the regulator to correct improper commercial practices in the group’s treatment of user data.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that in November 2018, the antitrust body ruled that Facebook had not informed users properly about its collection and use of data.

It fined the US company 5 million euros (USD5.5 million) and asked it to publish an amended statement on the homepage of its website for Italy, on the Facebook app and on the personal page of each registered Italian user.

A Facebook spokesman said the company had taken notice of the regulator’s announcement but would “await the Council of State decision on our appeal against the Authority’s initial findings”.