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Comment by hhanesand | Hacker News Reader

50 mil USD is not anywhere close to “hitting Google hard in the coffers”. I get it’s a much bigger fine to what was levied before, but let’s be realistic about the impact here...

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This is a fine by the French regulators for one specific breach. In the broader context, it's a warning shot. The GDPR gives them the right to levy fines of up to 4% of global revenues, if such a fine is deemed proportionate.

If Google remedy the breach, that'll be the end of the matter; the fundamental purpose of the regulator is to ensure compliance with the regulations. If Google continue to disregard the regulations, the regulators will not be so accommodating in future.

Last year, the EU fined Google $5 billion for antitrust offences related to Android; Google should be under no illusions about the serious intent of regulatory bodies in Europe.

https://www.dw.com/en/google-fined-43-billion-by-eu-regulato...

The fine is in addition to enforcement. It's not a fee they can pay to avoid GDPR compliance. They have to do that as well.

How's it being enforced, though? Short of outright arresting people, the usual enforcement tactic is to use fines

Not sure, but if the 57m EUR fines continue monthly for noncompliance? Weekly? Perhaps that will do more to turn their course..

If that enforcement tactic is ineffective, the EU can obviously elevate it's methodology. Companies which do business, transfer monies, and have offices and employees in the territory have a lot of potential assets to seize. Usually fines, which are levied on a regular basis, until compliance is reached, are adequate.

If nothing else, the fines should continue and I expect escalate.

This was my thought as well. Firat thing I thought is the EU might as well be pissing into the wind. 57M euros? Won't even make a blip on Google's revenue sheet.

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