In a context where the protection of personal data has become essential, two major companies in the online clairvoyance sector, Cosmospace and Télémaque, have recently suffered the wrath of the National Commission for Information Technology and Civil Liberties (CNIL). These sanctions highlight inadequate practices in the management of sensitive user information and are an important reminder of the legal obligations regarding data protection.
Heavy fines for multiple breaches
The CNIL has imposed significant fines on Cosmospace and Télémaque. The former, active behind the medium.fr website, was ordered to pay 250,000 euros, while the latter, operating horoscope.fr, was fined 150,000 euros. These financial penalties are the result of several significant breaches of data protection regulations.
Among the violations identified, excessive retention of personal data tops the list. Both companies retained sensitive information for a period of six years, well beyond the CNIL’s recommended three-year period. This extended collection includes intimate details such as sexual orientation and health status, collected without users’ explicit and prior consent.
Flaws revealed during intensive checks
The CNIL’s in-depth investigations, conducted since 2021, have uncovered these irregularities. The databases shared by both companies contained more than one and a half million profiles, collected and stored without respecting the regulations in force. The companies justified this accumulation of information by various needs such as staff training, subscription demonstration and tax compliance, considerations rigorously examined by the CNIL.
In addition, the systematic recording of telephone calls between clients and psychics has also led to criticism. These recordings were supposed to improve customer service, but their extended retention constitutes an unauthorized use of private data, thus aggravating the violations detected.
Regulatory context and similar precedents
This case is reminiscent of that of June 2023, involving another online clairvoyance company, KG COM, operating the site voyance-en-direct.tv. Fined €150,000 for similar acts, including inadequate retention of sensitive data and their collection without explicit consent, this company had already illustrated the challenges faced by the online clairvoyance industry regarding compliance with data regulations.
These incidents confirm the CNIL’s increased attention to digital activities directly affecting consumers, especially in sectors handling highly sensitive information. The frequent reminder of these violations demonstrates the need for companies to continually review their practices in order to remain compliant with the strict regulations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
In addition to the substantial fines imposed by the CNIL, the economic repercussions for Cosmospace and Télémaque are significant. With a significant annual turnover – estimated at 10 million euros for Horoscope.fr – these sanctions mark a hard blow for their profitability and their brand image.
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