French competition regulator seeks clarification on Google Ads

Just weeks after France’s data protection watchdog slapped a $57.5 million fine on Alphabet’s Google Inc (GOOGL) for the alleged breach of European Union online privacy laws, Paris now has an issue with the search giant’s advertising methods.

Google Ads is under the scanner of the European country’s competition regulator, after criticism that it has hit the French directory service from the company Amadeus based in the country.

“Google will need to quickly clarify the rules for its Google Ads online advertising platform that apply to electronic paid information services in order to make them more precise and intelligible and to ensure their application under non-discriminatory conditions,” read a statement from the regulator.

LOOKING AT THE GDPR FINE

The recent 50-million euro fine on Google was the largest penalty on any US tech firm regarding EU guidelines.

Regulators stated that Google did not supply users with adequate information on how their personal data was collected, and how it was being used. Another allegation was that Google did not gain explicit consent from users before targeting them with ‘personalized’ advertisements.

The new GDPR laws state that tech companies should simplify and state to the user how their data is being collected. Users should also be able to know how their data is being used.

However, Google failed on both these grounds. The details of Google’s data collection and usage are too complicated for users to understand and this complication is worsened by the company’s wide range of services. Google’s privacy settings and its terms and conditions do not provide users with enough flexibility or options to tackle the issue of data privacy.

Google was fined the highest among all US tech firms for breaking GDPR guidelines

In other news, Google recently bought Fossil Group’s (FOSL) smartwatch technology worth $40 million. The deal covers technology currently under development and a part of Fossil’s R&D team who will transition to Google.

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