French regulator slaps Google with fine over data protection
FRANCE’S data protection watchdog has fined Google €150,000 (£123,823) after the US search engine ignored a three-month ultimatum to bring its practices on tracking and storing user information in line with local law.
The privacy watchdog, known as CNIL, has also ordered Google to post the decision on its google.fr homepage for 48 hours within eight days of being officially notified of the ruling.
At issue was the new approach to user data that Google began in March 2012, in which it consolidated its 60 privacy policies into one and started combining data collected on individual users across its services, including YouTube, Gmail and social network Google+.
It gave users no means to opt out.
A Google France spokesman said the company will take note of this decision and consider further action.
“Throughout our talks with CNIL, we have explained our privacy policy and how it allows us to create simpler and more efficient services,” he said.
Britain has also opened similar cases against Google because the web giant’s privacy policy introduced in 2012 does not conform with rules protecting consumers’ data.