French Data Watchdog Fines Google, Shein Record $553.9 Million Over Cookies — Update

By Edith Hancock

France's data protection authority fined Alphabet's Google and Shein a total 475 million euros ($553.9 million) over concerns the companies are flouting French regulations around cookies.

The CNIL said late Wednesday that it fined Google 325 million euros and Shein 150 million euros, respectively, as part of the regulator's broader attempt to regulate how large technology companies use cookies to track users online.

It said that Google should have asked for users' consent to display adverts in emails through Gmail's "Promotions" and "Social" tabs, saying that it believes 53 million individuals had illegally been served adverts in those tabs.

The watchdog fined Google LLC 200 million euros and the company's Irish subsidiary 125 million. It said the company broke France's Data Protection Act by not properly informing customers of cookie tracking when accessing the tech giant's services, and encouraging users to consent to cookies for personal advertising over more generic ads.

The CNIL also ordered the company to acquire "valid" user consent for advertising cookies when creating a Google account, and to stop displaying ads in Gmail inboxes without user consent within six months. Failing this, it could face additional daily fines.

The fine amount reflects how many users in France had been affected and Google's central position in online advertising, the watchdog said, adding that it had already sanctioned Google in 2020 and 2021 for breaches over cookies.

A Google spokesperson said the company is reviewing the decision and that users have always been able to control the ads they see on its platforms. "Over the last two years, as the CNIL has acknowledged, we made additional updates to address their concerns, including an easy way to decline personalized ads in one click when creating a Google account, and changes to the way ads are presented in Gmail," they said.

The Google fine could draw ire from U.S. President Trump, who has openly criticized European officials for cracking down on American tech groups and threatened to penalize countries that do.

At the same time, the CNIL said advertising cookies were placed on the devices of users visiting China-founded retailer Shein's website when they landed on the page and before they were able to choose a preference for tracking.

It added that both companies didn't adequately inform users they were being tracked for advertising.

Shein said it contests the verdict and will appeal it. "The severity of the sanction appears politically motivated rather than the result of fair and balanced enforcement," it said.

Write to Edith Hancock at edith.hancock@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 04, 2025 05:39 ET (09:39 GMT)