Orange Fined €50 Million by CNIL for Unconsented Email Ads

The French privacy regulator ruled that Orange's email advertisements violated user consent laws, impacting over 7.8 million users.

The CNIL fined Orange €50 million for embedding ads resembling emails in its messaging service without user consent.
The ads were classified as direct marketing under EU and French laws due to their deceptive appearance as legitimate emails.
The regulator highlighted the financial benefit Orange gained from selling ad space, influencing the unprecedented fine amount.
Orange has until March 2025 to address further issues with third-party cookies violating consent rules or face daily penalties of €100,000.
The company plans to appeal the decision, arguing the practices were standard in the industry and did not misuse personal data.