France’s data protection agency Cnil has imposed fines of EUR 150 million and EUR 60 million on Google and Facebook respectively over the cookie windows on their websites. Both companies have been found guilty of disregarding their obligations under the country’s data protection law, by making it difficult for users to refuse cookies.
The EUR 150 million fine, which combines EUR 90 million to be paid by Googlo LLC and EUR 60 million by Google Ireland, was issued after an investigation carried out in mid-2021 on google.fr and youtube.com. The agency said that the design of the cookie windows on these websites failed to propose an easy mechanism to refuse cookies, while featuring a straightforward ‘I accept’ button.
The EUR 60 million sanction, inflicted on Facebook Ireland, was motivated by similar arguments following an investigation carried out in April 2021.
The watchdog has given Google and Facebook three months to ensure full compliance, saying that the companies could face a sanction of EUR 100,000 for each day that they delay the application of the ruling.
