Google fined record amount for cookie violation

According to CNIL, Facebook's Meta Platforms was also fined 60 million euros for the same reason. Internet users' prior consent for the use of cookies – small pieces of data that help build targeted digital advertising campaigns – is a key pillar of EU data privacy regulation. Europe and is a priority for CNIL.

"When you accept a cookie, it's done in a single click," said Karin Kiefer, CNIL's head of data protection and sanctions. In its statement, the watchdog said it had found that the websites facebook.com, google.fr and youtube.com do not allow easy refusal of cookies.

CNIL information: The two companies have three months to comply with their orders or face an additional fine of 100,000 EUR per day of delay. These include Google and Facebook to provide Internet users in France with simpler tools to refuse cookies, in order to ensure their satisfaction. CNIL says that although Google and Facebook provide a virtual button to allow immediate acceptance of cookies, there is no equivalent to simply refusing them.

A Google spokesperson said: “People trust us to respect their privacy and keep them safe. We understand our responsibility to protect that trust and are committed to making further changes and actively working with CNIL on this decision.” Meanwhile, Facebook did not respond to requests for comment.

This is not the first time Google has been penalized

It is known that this is not the first time Google has been penalized. CNIL's previous record fine in 2020 also targeted Google and amounted to EUR 100 million. At the time, CNIL found that Google's French-language websites did not seek the prior consent of visitors before advertising cookies were stored on the computer and did not provide clear information about how they intended to use the website. intend to use them. Kiefer said the issues have been resolved since then.

Things to know about Cookies

A cookie is a piece of text that a Web server can store on a user's hard drive. Cookies allow a website to store information on a user's computer and then retrieve it. Pieces of information will be stored as name-value pairs.

Classify

Cookies are divided into several types:

Session Cookie: Data is temporarily stored in computer memory while you use the browser. But will automatically delete when you finish. When you reopen the browser Session Cookie will appear. And ask if you want to restore the pages you visited before.

Persistent Cookie stored on your computer's hard drive, so it will not be deleted when you close the browser. Used to provide behaviors and actions when accessing that website.

Secure Cookie This type of cookie is sent and received through an HTTPS encrypted link. It won't work if the link is only HTTP

HTTP Only Cookie This type does not allow access from APIs such as Javascripts.

Same-site Cookie are sent through requests from the same target domain.

There are also many other types of cookies such as: Third-party Cookie, SuperCookie, Zoombie Cookie.

Check it out now:

How is cookie data transmitted?

The information stored on the hard drive in the form of Name-Value is all the data of the Cookie. Websites are stored data and then Cookies get back that data. The Web only retrieves data stored on your computer. This does not affect other Cookies or any data on your computer.

The data transmission takes place as follows:

Step 1: The website URL is entered in the address bar and the search begins. During this process the browser will send a request to the URL just entered.

Step 2: The browser will look for the Cookie file in the computer that is set up to send all the information about the Name-Value pair in the file to the network administrator's server with the URL. If not found, the data will not be stored in the Cookie.

Step 3: The web server collects the data stored in the Cookie and requests it for the home page. The network administrator will use them when the Name - Value pair is confirmed. If no pair is confirmed, the server will identify this as your first visit. Then automatically generate a new ID in the database. And repeat the steps of the newly set ID.

Note: The web server can change name-value pairs or add new ones. Whenever you visit the site and request the page.

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