Google handed €325 million fine in France over Gmail ads and cookies

 

The French privacy watchdog (CNIL) handed Google a €325 million fine on Wednesday for inserting advertising between Gmail users' emails and dropping tracking cookies without consent. 

The fine, announced late night on Wednesday, is the result of two breaches of French advertising and cookie laws, and follows a 2022 complaint by privacy group Noyb.

The first breach concerns Google's practice of inserting advertising in-between Gmail users' emails without their consent.

The CNIL's investigation revealed that Google bundled ads in with optional "smart features" it offered Gmail users. Those who agreed to switch on the "smart features" had ads inserted into their reorganised Gmail inbox – in new "Promotions" and "Social" tabs – without their consent. (...)