The French data protection authority (CNIL) confirmed this Microsoft was fined 60 million euros, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. This is due to the absence of an opt-out mechanism cookies advertising on Bing as required by European regulations. Not GDPR, but more specific ePrivacy with national application.

Once you enter Bing, Microsoft’s search engine, a typical drop-down list with options to accept or decline cookies appears in front of the user, but for some reason it didn’t on the French version of the site, at least for a while. And that earned Microsoft a fine from the French authorities.

A laughable fine considering that one of the biggest companies in the world is receiving it, but a fine that ultimately achieves its goal of allowing French users to decide cookies who agrees and who doesn’t. But the mess isn’t over, and it doesn’t look like it will be anytime soon.

And France slaps another fine on Microsoft 60,000 euros per day for three monthsunless Bing includes in the consent cookies one for ad fraud detection, which the company deems “essential.” So the user cannot decide to reject said cookie and the debate will take place.

Because… it’s a cookies really essential? Microsoft says they are “concerned about the CNIL’s stance on ad fraud” because they say a cookies of this kind “should not require the consent of those who intend to defraud others.” So Microsoft is expected to appeal the ruling.

The question posed by Microsoft remains up in the air: Does a company have the right to track users if it’s for a good cause? They focus on the perpetrators, but the truth is that cookies The whole world is swallowing it and Microsoft using it for some purpose means they are limiting themselves to it.

Not to mention that Microsoft or any other company can’t claim the right or duty to monitor the Internet. The case is resolved one way or the other, the fine will stand until it does, and if Microsoft loses, it must award cookies will likely be rejected as well.