Amazon hit with record EU data privacy fine
Last updated on: 30 July,2021 07:22 pm
Amazon has been hit with a record $886.6 million European Union fine
(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc has been hit with a record $886.6 million (746 million euros) European Union fine for processing personal data in violation of the bloc s GDPR rules, as privacy regulators take a more aggressive position on enforcement.
The Luxembourg National Commission for Data Protection (CNPD) imposed the fine on Amazon in a July 16 decision, the company disclosed in a regulatory filing on Friday.
Amazon will appeal the fine, according to a company spokesperson. The e-commerce giant said in the filing it believed CNPD s decision was without merit. CNPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
EU s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, requires companies to seek people s consent before using their personal data or face steep fines.
Globally, regulatory scrutiny of tech giants has been increasing following a string of scandals over privacy and misinformation, as well as complaints from some businesses that they abuse their market power.
Alphabet s Google, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft Corp have drawn heightened scrutiny in Europe. In December, France s data privacy watchdog handed out its biggest ever fine of 100 million euros ($118.82 million) to Google for breaching the nation s rules on online advertising trackers.