Microsoft fined 60 million euros for tracking ‘cookies’

A cookie is a file that stores information about user activities and the use of cookies can help advertisers deliver messages to the right audience. According to CNIL, Microsoft’s Bing search engine does not set up a system that allows users to refuse cookies in the simple way of accepting this file.

After investigation, CNIL discovered that when a user visits the website, cookies are sent to their terminal without the user’s consent, while those cookies are used with advertising purposes. CNIL also found that there is no button that allows users to refuse to receive cookies as easily as accepting these files.

CNIL considers the fine to be justified, in part because the profits Microsoft derives from advertising, which indirectly derives from data collected through cookies. Microsoft has 3 months to fix this problem, if overdue Microsoft can be fined up to 60,000 euros / day.

Last year, CNIL said it would conduct a review and check for websites that do not comply with regulations on the use of cookies. Google and Facebook were also fined 150 million euros and 60 million euros by CNIL last year for similar reasons.