Google may face a record €525 million fine in France after the French data protection authority, CNIL, found that the tech giant may have violated privacy laws by showing personalised ads in Gmail without proper user consent.
The investigation focuses on Gmail’s use of tracking cookies and ad banners that mimic real emails, raising concerns over misleading practices and potential breaches of France’s strict data privacy rules. CNIL officials claim that Google fails to obtain clear consent when users create Gmail accounts, automatically enabling cookies that drive targeted advertising
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This case, still under review, could set a major precedent in digital privacy regulation. If confirmed, the fine would be the largest ever imposed by CNIL, surpassing the €150 million penalty previously issued to Meta in 2022, and adds to the mounting scrutiny of Big Tech’s handling of user data under Europe’s GDPR.
