Google fined $57 million by France regulators over GDPR violations

[The Buzz]

Privacy regulators in France have fined Google around $57 million for failing to comply with Europe's sweeping privacy rules. In a ruling issued last week, the French National Data Protection Commission (CNIL) said Google failed to obtain people's unambiguous consent before using their data in order to personalize ads.

From the ruling:

"The infringements observed deprive the users of essential guarantees regarding processing operations that can reveal important parts of their private life since they are based on a huge amount of data, a wide variety of services and almost unlimited possible combinations."

“The information on processing operations for the ads personalization is diluted in several documents and does not enable the user to be aware of their extent . . . For example, in the section 'Ads Personalization,' it is not possible to be aware of the plurality of services, websites and applications involved in these processing operations (Google search, You tube, Google home, Google maps, PlayStore, Google pictures…) and therefore of the amount of data processed and combined.”

Read more from Media Post here: https://www.mediapost.com/publicatio...iolations.html

And read the entire ruling here: https://www.cnil.fr/en/cnils-restric...nst-google-llc

[AussieDave]

Google's a USA based company. While it has a global presence, I'm at loss to how the CNIL plan on collecting said $57Mil. A court ruling I can understand, but... Although the CNIL have regulatory powers, they're not a court.

Hence, how do they plan to enforce this fine, upon a USA company?

[nfint12]

Hence, how do they plan to enforce this fine, upon a USA company?

Their services could be limited in France if they don't pay.

[Cardy007]

I read that Google´s annual turn over is over 100 billion, I guess 57 million is nothing to them...

[FSB]

I read that Google´s annual turn over is over 100 billion, I guess 57 million is nothing to them...

They will pay because it is a funny amount for them.

[AussieDave]

Their services could be limited in France if they don't pay.

I'm not that dumb My question though wasn't literal.

Lets look at this hypothetically...

If Google gave the CNIL the "BIRD", and without a court order, CNIL can't enforce this 75Mil.

It's not unlike a credit collection agency, phoning Joe Blogs, and saying... "You owe us $1,000. If you don't pay, we'll place a negative credit rating against your name." Most people rely on credit, hence, Joe Blogs (even if he's not legally bound) will likely pay the debt collector the $1,000.

But if Joe Blogs doesn't need credit, and has enough cash to live debt free, then a "negative rating" isn't going to worry/affect him.

The 'stick' being waved is only scary, if, it means something.

And, just Like Joe Blogs, if "France" isn't important to Google, then the NCIL is stuffed.

[Sherlock]

57 M is 57 M for everyone. Roughly 0.1% of income. I fight even for 0.1% of my income.

On the top the issue is still ongoing.
Google is everywhere, even in France. They have offices there, they were raided already. They have AI research centre in France.

This fine is totally stupid but I hope Google will be pressed hard, because what Google does is abusing his power over internet (Google destroyed already online advertisement). Hopefully states will destroy Google and there will be some space for competition.

[AussieDave]

This fine is totally stupid but I hope Google will be pressed hard, because what Google does is abusing his power over internet (Google destroyed already online advertisement). Hopefully states will destroy Google and there will be some space for competition.

Agreed. Google has used its power in a similar way as to Bill Gates, who, I believe a few years back, faced court action (?) over Microsoft forcing a monopoly of sorts on its OS users.

Slightly different scenario... But sometime back in the early days (2002 - 2005) the USA placed an embargo on Antigua, due to them providing licensing to online casinos etc, who were marketing to the USA. Antigua made and appeal to the United Nations, claiming, the embargo was unfair. The UN agreed, and subsequently ordered the USA to pay Antigua 19Mil for loss of income due to the embargo.

The USA gave Antigua and UN the "bird" and didn't pay, and I believe still haven't.

If organisations such as the NCIL (and others) will not shy away from BIG conglomerates like Google, and instead, make them accountable for abusing said power and information, then I say good-on-them, and I fully support it!

[Cash Bonus]

Google is the first company in history to be handed with this serious financial penalty, but it’s no big deal to a company of their position and authority. I don't think they're too worried about it.


What to know about Google’s GDPR problems: https://digiday.com/media/inside-googles-gdpr-fine

[ocreditor]

Google is the first company in history to be handed with this serious financial penalty, but it’s no big deal to a company of their position and authority. I don't think they're too worried about it.


What to know about Google’s GDPR problems: https://digiday.com/media/inside-googles-gdpr-fine

It's also the first company that fines in this scale are not even really tickle their budget

[Gambino888]

Thats a cosmetic move , 57 million is nothing for google..

[Vargoso]

Maybe all the information they got worth more than $57M? Or is it like those cases when you can appeal, re-appeal, re-re-appeal? It's not like if Google's don't know what is doing.

It's only France now, but each country can't issue fines too?

[Gambino888]

well, big G is quite active on brigin the EU legislators.. no one talks about paid weekend holidays, paid trips etc.. a lot of lobbying going there. of course they do the same on each top countries.

[Pokerface]

The amount of the fine is nothing to Google but it is a very loud message to everyone.