La Liga has been fined €250,000 by Spain’s data protection agency for not adequately informing users of its official app that the program can activate smartphone microphones and monitor user location.
Reports first surfaced in June 2018 that the app, which has been downloaded over 10 million times, was found to be tapping into the location data and microphones of users to find bars that were illegally broadcasting games.
La Liga was also told to remove the app by 30th June.
In a statement, the League insisted that it had always complied by data protection regulations and denied breaking the law: “La Liga disagrees profoundly with this decision, rejects the penalty imposed as unjust, unfounded and disproportionate and considers that the AEPD has not made the necessary efforts to understand how the technology works.
“As a result, it will challenge the ruling in court to demonstrate that its actions have always been responsible and in accordance with the law.”
