Big tech fines in 2019
In 2019, this directory records 4 major tech penalties totalling roughly $5.2B. The largest was Meta's $5B action.
4 penalties
Meta · 2019
Facebook's $5B FTC penalty after Cambridge Analytica
The FTC imposed a $5B penalty and sweeping new privacy restrictions after finding that Facebook deceived users about their ability to control personal data, in violation of a 2012 consent order. Third-party apps had harvested data on up to 87 million users in the Cambridge Analytica episode. It was the largest privacy penalty in history at the time.
Google · AdSense · 2019
Google's €1.49B AdSense fine, later annulled
The Commission fined Google for imposing clauses on websites using AdSense for Search that blocked them from displaying rival search ads. In September 2024 the EU General Court annulled the decision.
Google · YouTube · 2019
YouTube's $170M COPPA settlement over children's data
The FTC and the New York Attorney General alleged that YouTube collected personal data from viewers of child-directed channels through cookies, without parental consent, and used it for targeted advertising. It was a record COPPA penalty at the time.
Google · 2019
CNIL fines Google €50M over Android ad consent
France's CNIL issued one of the first major GDPR fines, finding that Google lacked transparency and valid consent for ads personalisation during Android device setup.