Information Collected Without User Consent... France Fines Google and Amazon

Google and Amazon fined 100 million euros and 3,500 euros respectively by French authorities for privacy regulation violations

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] On the 10th (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that French regulators imposed fines of 100 million euros (approximately 131.7 billion KRW) and 35 million euros (approximately 46.1 billion KRW) on Google and Amazon, respectively, for violating personal data protection regulations.

According to the report, the French regulatory agency, the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libert?s (CNIL), decided this on the grounds that Google and Amazon used cookies for personalized advertising without user consent.

Cookies are temporary files that automatically store internet users' browsing history. Companies use them for personalized advertising.

CNIL stated that when visiting Google France and Amazon France websites, cookies intended for advertising purposes are automatically stored without notifying users. It pointed out that to store advertising cookies, user consent must be obtained, but Google and Amazon neither sought consent nor provided adequate information.

Users were either not sufficiently aware or completely unaware that cookies were being stored on their computers regardless of how they accessed the websites.

CNIL ordered Google and Amazon to rectify the situation within three months and warned that if appropriate measures are not taken, an additional fine of 100,000 euros per day will be imposed.