Rain of penance Yet this movement of publishers is understandable. Since the introduction in 2018 of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, AVG in the Netherlands), the focus has been on guaranteeing privacy and securely managing data. The result is an increase in the number of fines imposed on organizations that crossed the line. All kinds of European sisters of the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) have been handing out spicy vouchers to well-known companies since 2019. The GDPR is the vehicle for this, and the revised Digital Service Act will also play that role in the coming years.
The most notable fines for GDPR violations can be found in this anthology of fines : 746 million to Amazon by the Luxembourg National Commission for Data Protection 225 million worth of WhatsApp by Ireland's Data Protection Commission. 90 million to fax number list Google in the US by the French Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL). 60 million to Google France, 60 million to Google Ireland and 60 million to Facebook Ireland by CNIL. Our own AP was also involved. All kinds of organizations have been financially reprimanded in recent years .
From publishers and government organizations to multinationals. Cherry on the cake The Belgian Data Protection Authority (GBA) fined 'branch organisation' IAB Europe in February of 250,000 euros. IAB developed the Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF), the standard consent query that is used almost everywhere. The GBA found, among other things, the information for users to be too general and vague . The authority literally rules: “Due to the complexity, it is difficult for users to maintain control over their personal data.” Since then, many publishers have reacted hesitantly. Maybe they won't move until the AP, DSA in hand, throws punches?