Google, the Mountain View giant, is located at the center of two heavy measures for violation of privacy on both banks of the Atlantic. In the United States, a federal jury decided that the company will have to pay 425.7 million dollars to about 100 million users, guilty of having collected their data despite the privacy settings deactivated.
Almost simultaneously, in France the Guarantor Authority for Data Protection, CNIL, imposed record fines for Google E and Shein, accusing them of having violated the rules on cookies and of having traced users without consent.
Google sentenced to compensate 425 million for violation of privacy
In the United States, the story ended before the Federal Court of San Francisco, who after a long class action started in 2020 established the sentence. According to the jury, Google violated the guarantees of privacy related to the setting “Web & App Activity” of his service, continuing to collect and use user data even when they had deactivated the tracking function.
For about eight years the company would have had access to smartphones and tablets, accumulating personal information in contrast with the promises of confidentiality. The cause involved about 98 million users in the USA, who originally asked for compensation for over 31 billion dollars.
The jury recognized Google’s responsibility for two accusation out of three, but without recognizing “deliberate malice”, therefore without punitive damage. For his part, Google rejects all charges and has announced that he will appeal.
Privacy, stuck to Google and Shein: maxi fines in France on cookies
In Europe, the Cnil (Commission National de l’AsstoTique et des Libertés) has put Google and Shein in the sights (freshly fresh from Italy), imposing unprecedented penalties for violations of the rules on cookies.
They are among the highest fines ever decided by the French guarantor: 325 million euros for Google and 150 million for Shein. For the authority, both companies have not asked for a truly free and informed consensus before installing advertising cookies in user browsers, nor have they clearly explained how to reject them.
The two companies can still appeal, but in the meantime CNIL has ordered Google to adapt within six months, under penalty of an additional sanction of 100,000 euros per day in case of delay.
Even Shein, who has about 12 million visitors per month in France, would have collected enormous quantities of data through unauthorized cookies, pushing the guarantor to a more severe intervention.
Because advertising cookies are central in online business models
But what are they for? Cookies allow platforms and advertisers to follow users’ online navigation and collect useful data to build custom profiles.
With this information, companies manage to propose tailor -made insertions, making the countryside more effective and increasing earnings. For many big techs, most of the business stands on this continuous collection of data.
Shein’s answer
Following this CNIL decision, Shein has released a very decisive statement: “We will present an appeal”. The sanction imposed was called “completely disproportionate”, considering what are the “alleged violations” but not only, also proactive corrective actions and full current conformity declared.
“The severity of the sanction seems to aim to penalize Shein rather than reflecting a fair and balanced application of the legislation. The entire procedure was marked by an evident prejudice. The CNIL has recognized several substantial errors in its analysis, but none of these admissions changed the final outcome – confirming that the decision had already been determined. To Shein the right was given to a just trial and impartial “.
From August 2023 an active collaboration with CNIL began, the company reiterates. The data protection practices have been strengthened but, despite this, no warning has come:
“The procedure was started directly with a formal notification, in evident contrast with the usual regulatory practices. We ask for an approach to regulation based on the facts and in accordance with the principles of law”.
