Your Free and Free Mobile data has been stolen: the CNIL punishes the operator with a heavy fine
The French data protection authority, CNIL, has imposed a hefty fine on the telecommunications company Free, highlighting the ongoing importance of data security in Europe. Free Mobile faces a €27 million fine, and Free has been fined €15 million, after a cyberattack exposed the personal data of millions of customers. This action underscores the EU's commitment to protecting user data and enforcing stringent cybersecurity measures. The fines stem from a cyberattack in October 2024 that compromised the systems of both Free Mobile and Free. The breach resulted in the theft of personal data associated with 24 million subscriber contracts, indicating a significant failure in the companies' security protocols. CNIL found that the security of both companies' systems was not sufficiently robust to prevent this large-scale data breach, leading to the substantial penalties. This decision serves as a stern warning to all European companies, particularly those handling large volumes of customer data. It emphasizes the critical need for robust cybersecurity infrastructure and proactive data protection measures to comply with regulations like GDPR. The impact extends beyond Free, signaling to all businesses that they are responsible for the protection of their customer's personal data.
Curated and translated by Europe Digital for our multilingual European audience.
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