Austrian privacy and digital rights group NOYB has posted an update concerning several cookie banner complaints made to the Belgium data protection authority (DPA).
In July 2023, NOYB filed complaints against 15 Belgian news websites for using deceptive cookie banners. Despite previous non-compliance with GDPR, the companies were not ordered to change their unlawful cookie banners. A questionable settlement was reached without a formal order to comply, allowing the violations to continue.
The Belgian authority has now reversed its non-enforcement approach and mandated four Mediahuis-operated websites ( De Standaard, Het Nieuwsblad, Het Belang van Limburg and Gazet van Antwerpen) to bring their cookie banners into compliance. These websites must now implement a "reject" button on the first layer of the banner and refrain from using deceptive button colours to obtain user consent. Mediahuis and the four news sites have 45 days to comply with the DPA's orders, with potential penalties of €50,000 per day for non-compliance, up to a maximum of €10,000,000.
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