Google and Chinese e-commerce giant Shein receive substantial fines from the French regulator for violating cookie rules.
The French privacy watchdog CNIL has fined Google and Shein a total of 475 million euros for breaching privacy legislation. The sanctions are part of a broader enforcement plan that has been ongoing since 2019. Both companies are being penalized because they, each in their own way, place cookies on users’ devices without asking for consent.
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Cookies without Consent
Google received the heaviest fine of 325 million euros, which will be shared between the parent company and the Irish office. According to CNIL, Google placed advertising cookies without explicit consent from users of the Gmail email service.
Moreover, users did not receive clear information about the processing of their data. CNIL states that users were tracked through personalized advertisements within Gmail without giving prior consent.
The Chinese fashion online store Shein was fined 150 million euros. CNIL accuses the company of placing cookies on visitors’ devices without valid consent. The French government is not particularly fond of the fashion app: in July, an ‘anti-Shein law’ was approved, which, among other things, restricts advertising.
According to CNIL, the cookie banner did not offer a real choice: cookies were placed on the first visit, without users clicking ‘accept’. Additionally, the information about data processing was incomplete. For example, users were not given an explanation of how to exercise their rights.
Middle Finger to Trump
These fines are part of the action plan launched by CNIL in 2019 to better regulate the use of cookies. Since then, the supervisory authority has carried out checks on websites that did not comply with consent rules. Both Google and Shein have been given three months to adjust their practices to comply with current regulations. If they fail to do so, they risk additional fines.
By fining Google, the French government shows it is not impressed by Trump’s threats. The Trump administration is threatening sanctions against countries and officials who dare to apply European legislation. This strategy seems to be working with the European Commission, but not yet with the French regulator.
One of Trump’s arguments is that European legislation particularly targets American companies. The fact that Chinese Shein is also being punished refutes that argument.