EU regulators put muscle behind GDPR
Google was fined $57 million by the French data protection authority, known as CNIL, for violating EU’s consumer data privacy regulation known as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that was passed in May 2018. The fine against Google relates to improper disclosure to consumers on how their data is collected and used in personalized ads across Google’s services including their flagship search engine, Google Maps and YouTube. French authorities claim that given Google’s size and breadth of online services, its data collection process was massive and opaque to consumers.
CardLinx Insight
The latest fine by France’s CNIL is a direct hit at Google’s business model which uses consumer behavioral data to present targeted ads. This is a clear signal by European regulators that they will punish companies that don’t comply with GDPR. The trend is clear: more regulations are on the horizon and only companies that are trusted by consumers will prosper in this new environment. This month Apple CEO Tim Cook published an op-ed positioning Apple as a trusted company in the tech sector by supporting comprehensive federal consumer data protection laws in the US.