Google receives record fine from CNIL amid tense international climate

This is the largest fine ever imposed by the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL), and it concerns Google. On Wednesday, September 3, the authority fined it €325 million for breaches of personal data rules in its advertising practices. The previous record was €150 million, which already affected Google in 2022—an amount since equaled this Wednesday in another fine targeting Chinese online fast-fashion giant Shein. Beyond the figures, the penalty comes at a time when Google remains under scrutiny from regulators around the world, amid heightened tensions between Europe and the administration of US President Donald Trump.

On the merits, the CNIL is criticizing Google for not having obtained its users' consent for the insertion of advertisements in Gmail, its email management software. Reserved for Internet users who have activated the automatic sorting function for their mail, these advertising messages are inserted in the form of emails, in "promotions" and "social networks" tabs, describes the privacy protection authority. For the latter, these messages are therefore similar to "direct canvassing", like leaflets in mailboxes.

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