Rossel Group (sudinfo) – €50,000 Fine (Belgium, 2022)
The Belgian privacy authority fined Rossel Group EUR 50,000 for placing cookies on their websites without proper user consent. They used pre-ticked boxes and unclear cookie policies, making it hard for users to control their data. This case shows the importance of clear and transparent consent for cookies on websites.
What happened
Rossel Group placed cookies on their websites without obtaining proper user consent.
Who was affected
Visitors to Rossel Group's websites, such as Le Soir and Sudinfo, who had cookies placed on their devices without clear consent.
What the authority found
The Belgian DPA found that Rossel Group violated GDPR by placing unnecessary cookies without obtaining prior user consent.
Why this matters
This ruling highlights the need for website operators to ensure clear and explicit consent for cookies, reinforcing the importance of transparent privacy practices. It serves as a warning to businesses about the risks of using pre-ticked boxes and unclear cookie policies.
GDPR Articles Cited
Entities Involved
The investigation found cookies placed before consent, pre-ticked boxes, unclear cookie policy, and no option to withdraw consent.
Violations (5)
Cookie consent checkboxes are pre-selected by default, violating the requirement for active, affirmative consent.
Art. 4(11) GDPR
Non-essential cookies (tracking, advertising) are placed on the user's device before obtaining valid consent.
Art. 6(1) GDPR
Third-party tracking cookies or scripts are loaded without obtaining prior user consent.
Art. 13, 14 GDPR
The cookie banner or cookie policy provides vague, incomplete, or unclear information about what cookies are used and why.
Art. 12, 13 GDPR
No accessible mechanism exists for users to withdraw previously given cookie consent.
Art. 7(3) GDPR
Related Enforcement Actions (0)
No other enforcement actions found for Rossel Group (sudinfo) in BE
This is the only recorded action for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Similar Cases
Enforcement actions with similar violations
Details
Fine Date
16 June 2022
Authority
Autorité de Protection des Données
Fine Amount
€50,000
GDPRhub ID
gdprhub-4999About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Rossel Group (sudinfo) - Belgium (2022). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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