Apple, Google: a fine of 20 million euros for reselling their users’ data

Apple and Google were fined 20 million euros in Italy for using user data for commercial purposes without their permission. This is the second time of the week that the regulator has sanctioned American technology giants this week.

The AGCM, the Italian gendarme in charge of competition and the local market condemned Apple and Google to a fine of 20 million euros, of which 10 million each, for having violated the consumer code. The American giants in particular did not provide sufficient information to customers and would have resorted to ” aggressive methods »In the use of their data for commercial purposes.

In other words, Apple and Google have resold their users’ personal data to other companies without their explicit consent. This new sanction comes just a few days after the AGCM’s fine of 203 million euros for Amazon and Apple, which had violated European rules on competition.

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Your personal data is resold without your consent

According to the AGCM, Apple and Google would not offer users way to refuse the use of their data for commercial purposes. Indeed, when you create for example an Apple ID, the company does not provide ” immediately and explicitly to the user an indication of the collection and use of (his) data for commercial purposes “.

It is only by going to the Apple Store that Apple warns you that it will use some of your personal data to ” activate features, secure services or personalize your experience “. However, the company never makes it clear that it will use your personal data for commercial purposes.

The AGCM did not specify to whom Apple was reselling your data, but this practice seems contrary to company policy. Indeed, on Apple’s privacy policy, we can read that the company will only use personal data to supply its services, to comply with local laws, to prevent fraud and for communication purposes.

On the Google side, during the account creation phase, the company would have pre-activated the user’s consent to the transfer and / or use of their data for commercial purposes, which is considered to be a practice too aggressive for the Italian gendarme. Either way, the sanctions against the digital giants are not going to end anytime soon. Apple is also the subject of another sanction of 1.1 billion euros inflicted in 2020, but the company has just asked France to cancel it.

Source: AGCM