LONDON — European Union privacy watchdogs hit Facebook owner Meta with fines totaling $264 million Monday after an investigation into a 2018 data breach on the social media platform that exposed millions of accounts.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission issued the penalties after wrapping up its inquiry into the breach, when hackers gained access to user accounts by exploiting bugs in the platform’s code that allowed them to steal digital keys, known as “access tokens.”

Under the 27-nation EU’s strict privacy regime, the Irish watchdog is Meta’s lead privacy regulator because the company’s regional headquarters are based in Dublin.

The company said it would appeal the decision. — Associated Press