France Fines Google and Shein Over 800 Billion Rwandan Francs for Privacy Violations

The French government has fined Google and Shein a combined $555 million (over 800 billion Rwandan Francs) for violating users’ data privacy rights.

The decision was announced by CNIL, France’s data protection authority.

The U.S.-based tech giant Google was fined $380 million, while Shein, the China-founded online fashion retailer, was fined $175 million.

According to CNIL, both companies failed to comply with regulations governing the use of cookies—small data files stored on users’ devices when they visit websites.

Cookies collect information such as browsing history, time spent on sites, and user preferences, which are then used for analytics and targeted advertising.

Under French and EU law, websites must seek users’ consent before storing or using such data.

However, CNIL found that Google and Shein stored and used personal data for advertising purposes without users’ explicit consent, effectively denying them the right to choose.

In response, Shein said it has since updated its systems to comply with CNIL’s requirements and plans to appeal the ruling.

Google, for its part, stated that it will review the decision carefully, while emphasizing that it has already implemented the necessary compliance measures requested by French authorities.