Now It's Personal: Google Hit With First Heavy GDPR Fine

This blog recently introduced the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), which were enacted by the European Union (EU) in May 2018. Since that entry, the first significant fine under the GDPR has been issued and it's against a company to which everyone has provided data: Google.

Although social media platforms like Facebook have received more widespread criticism over the use (or misuse) of data in recent years, it was Google that was first to face the major consequences of the GDPR. The $57 million fine was issued by the French data protection regulator CNIL. CNIL fined Google for failing to meet GDPR standards in providing information to customers about how their data is being used, particularly in regard to personalized ads. Additionally, Google did not provide sufficient information regarding its data consent policies.