Facebook allows the French to refuse cookies more easily and thus avoids a fine

According to the French privacy regulator, Facebook should not pay a penalty of 100,000 euros per day because it allows the French to simply refuse cookies. The company had been fined 60 million euros for this at the end of last year and risked a penalty.

According to the French privacy regulator Facebook has taken the necessary steps to comply with French law within the stipulated period of three months. The supervisor demanded early this year that all residents of France should be able to easily refuse optional cookies when visiting the Facebook website.

The social media company adapted and now shows an option in France that allows users to choose with one click to only allow essential cookies. In theory, this means that optional cookies can be excluded. The option to allow both types of cookies is also mentioned. As a result of this measure, Facebook does not have to pay a penalty of 100,000 euros per day as the CNIL had proposed. Despite Facebook now following French law, the CNIL says it will continue to monitor the social media company’s compliance.

Google also came in the crosshairs of the French privacy watchdog justly. In January this year, the CNIL fined the American search giant of $150 million for failing to offer a simple option to refuse cookies on its platforms. At the end of April, Google shared details about its new, custom cookie wall, which will roll out first in France this year and then to other parts of Europe. The American search giant said it worked closely with the French regulator to comply with the requirements.