Amazon hit with record EU data privacy fine



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July 30 (Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) was fined a record $ 886.6 million (€ 746 million) in the European Union for processing personal data in violation block GDPR rules, as privacy regulators are more aggressive stance on enforcement.

The Luxembourg National Commission for Data Protection (CNPD) imposed the fine on Amazon in a July 16 decision, the company revealed in a regulatory filing on Friday. (https://bit.ly/2TLIZQ8)

Amazon will appeal the fine, according to a spokesperson for the company. The e-commerce giant said in the filing that it believes the CNPD’s decision to be without merit.

The CNPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Amazon logo can be seen at the company’s logistics center in Boves, France on August 8, 2018. REUTERS / Pascal Rossignol / File Photo

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, requires companies to seek consent from individuals before using their personal data or face heavy fines.

Globally, regulatory oversight of tech giants has intensified following a spate of privacy and disinformation scandals, as well as complaints from some companies that they are abusing their market power .

Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O), Facebook Inc (FB.O), Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) have come under increased surveillance in Europe. Read more

In December, the French data privacy watchdog imposed its biggest fine of 100 million euros ($ 118.82 million) on Google for breaking national rules on online advertising trackers.

($ 1 = 0.8416 euros)

Report by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru and Foo Yun Chee in Brussels; Editing by Aditya Soni, Shailesh Kuber and Shounak Dasgupta

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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