Tech

France imposes fines on Google, Facebook for cookie infringements

Google and Facebook are facing fines of tens of millions of euros for requiring users to click more often to remove their cookies than to accept them.

The French data protection authority Cnil said on Thursday.

Two Google subsidiaries have been hit with fines of 150 million euros ($170 million), while Facebook has to pay 60 million euros.

Cookies are small data blocks saved on a device when a user browses a website. They facilitate navigation through the website, but personal information may become available to advertisers when they are installed.

READ ALSO: Google, UNESCO support 100 digital journalism institutions in Africa

Cnil noted that cookies could be accepted with just one click on the google.fr, facebook.com and youtube.com websites, while several clicks were needed to remove them, this affected consent provisions under French law, it said.

The operators have three months to amend their practices, with an additional 100,000 euros imposed for each day of delay.

A spokeswoman for Meta, Facebook’s parent company, said the company would look into the ruling.

She noted that personal settings gave users greater control over their data and added that the settings would be improved.

Google said it was aware of its responsibilities and committed itself to changes.

TheStar

Editor

Recent Posts

NYSC introduces mandatory NERD clearance for corps mobilisation

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has made National Electronic Registration Database (NERD) clearance a…

24 minutes ago

UK opens applications for 2026 Chevening scholarships

The United Kingdom Mission has announced that applications for the 2026/2027 Chevening Scholarships will open…

29 minutes ago

Nollywood actor Harry B seeks support for ailing actress Maureen Okpoko

Veteran Nollywood actor and musician Harry B Anyanwu has appealed to colleagues and well-meaning Nigerians…

31 minutes ago

Kaduna govt, UNICEF train 23 LG chairmen on public fund management

The Kaduna State Government, with support from UNICEF, has begun a three-day capacity-building workshop on…

55 minutes ago

NRS issues tax guidelines for virtual assets

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has released new guidelines on the taxation of virtual assets,…

1 hour ago

NiDCOM secures release of Nigerian girls detained in Mauritius

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed the release of a group of Nigerian…

2 hours ago

This website uses cookies.