Your Tech Story

Fine

Samsung Faces Heavy Fines Over Worker Radiation Exposure Scandal

Samsung Faces Heavy Fines Over Workers Radiation Exposure Scandal

One of the biggest businesses in South Korea, Samsung Electronics, is being fined after a safety lapse at its semiconductor plant exposed employees to dangerous radiation levels.  Two employees of the Giheung facility were working on normal maintenance of silicon wafer analysis equipment in May 2023. This facility is located about 40 kilometres south of Seoul. There they were exposed to radiation levels. These Levels were significantly higher than the annual safety limit.

Safety Device Failure

Samsung Faces Heavy Fines Over Worker Radiation Exposure Scandal

Image Source: koreabizwire.com

Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) investigations in South Korea found that the exposure was brought on by a malfunctioning safety system that was intended to automatically turn off radiation when equipment doors were opened. The malfunction was ascribed to the incompetence of Samsung’s radiation safety staff, who neglected to verify that the apparatus was operating as intended. Due to this error, both employees had to be hospitalised for radiation exposure, specifically to their fingers, which manifested strange symptoms.

Regulation-Implied Penalties

After conducting a comprehensive investigation, the NSSC fined Samsung up to 10.5 million won (about US$7,900 or RM32,716) for the safety infractions. Two further regulatory violations came to light throughout the examination. They might also result in additional sanctions. Even while the fee is a small monetary penalty for a company the size of Samsung, it emphasizes how crucial it is to follow nuclear safety regulations.

Samsung's Reaction and Steps

Samsung responded to the event. It pledged complete cooperation with the investigation as well as well, extending support. This support includes medical care and rehabilitation aid, to the impacted personnel. In order to avert mishaps in the future, the corporation has also promised to enhance safety protocols. Samsung stressed in a public statement how committed it is to protecting worker safety. So, It will be averting such mishaps in the future.

Additional Safety Risks

The incident involving radiation exposure is just one more of a string of safety problems that have been affecting Samsung’s manufacturing facilities lately. These include toxic chemical mismanagement at its Vietnam plant and a lawsuit brought by a Texas employee, which raises questions about the organisation’s workplace safety procedures.

Google Faces €250 Million Fine in France Over News Publisher Dispute

Google Faces €250 Million Fine in France Over News Publisher Dispute

The competition authority in France, Autorite de la Concurrence, fined Alphabet Inc.’s Google a whopping €250 million for not negotiating agreements with media outlets for the publication of links to their material. Google was also fined for training its AI system on press articles without properly notifying the authorities or the publishers.

Context of the Conflict

Google Faces €250 Million Fine in France Over News Publisher Dispute

Image Source: euronews.com

The fine is related to a copyright dispute that was started by Agence France Presse (AFP), one of the biggest news organisations in France, along with other complaints. Due to legal action taken against it in the past over its management of French web material, Google was first fined €500 million. Google’s decision to withdraw its appeal in 2022 gave the impression that the matter had been settled, but the latest decision shows that the internet giant and French regulators are still at odds.

Penalties for Violations

The French watchdog on competition discovered that Google had broken four of the seven promises made in a settlement deal. Among these transgressions are the inability to negotiate in good faith with publishers and the opaqueness of the information provided. The problem was additionally made worse by Google’s unauthorised usage of press articles to train its artificial intelligence (AI) system.

Regulatory Action's Escalation

The French authorities’ ongoing efforts to hold Google responsible for its dealings with the media industry are reflected in these most recent penalties. The regulatory body has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to ensuring equitable treatment for press publishers by imposing sanctions on the internet giant for comparable offences.

European Union's Directive on Copyright

The efforts of the French antitrust body are in line with larger European Union policies that seek to rectify the power disparity between press publishers and digital firms. Neighbouring rights requirements were established by the EU’s 2019 Copyright Directive, which mandates that platforms such as Google sign arrangements with publishers for the use of their work.

Google's Past Legal Conflicts

The dispute between Google and European regulators on its handling of news publishers is not new. The business has previously been the target of legal issues and investigations in several European nations, including Germany and Spain. While some instances have been resolved, others have forced Google to make big operational adjustments, including briefly removing its News service from Spain.

In summary, Google’s €250 million punishment levied by the French competition authorities highlights the continuous conflict between internet companies and regulators on equitable treatment of news producers. It’s unclear how Google and other platforms will modify their business models to comply with legal requirements as long as debates about digital copyright and neighbouring rights go on.