The French Commission for the Protection of Personal Data (CNIL) imposed on the agrochemical company yesterday Wednesday Monsanto (has been acquired by the group Bayer) fine of 400,000 euros because illegally dossier public figures, journalists and activists in order to influence the public debate about glyphosate, a controversial herbicide.
The independent authority, following seven appeals (including Le Monde, France Télévisions, Radio France, Le Parisien and Agence France-Presse), ruled that the company had breached its obligation to inform registered the processing of their personal data, which was revealed by the media in May 2019.
According to the authorities’ investigation, the file contained the names “More than 200 celebrities”, with a “score of 1 to 5” which allowed “their influence, credibility and support to Monsanto on various issues, such as herbicides or genetically modified organisms” to be assessed.
The case, uncovered by Mont and France 2, spread rapidly throughout Europe. Lists of personalities (politicians, scientists, journalists) also compiled in at least six other countries (Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom) and in European institutions. In total, the lists contained 1,500 persons.
During the proceedings, CNIL “significantly downplayed the initial weight of the charges against Monsanto,” was Bager’s response to a written statement sent to AFP.
Monsanto was “responsible for data processing” on behalf of Fleishman-Hillard, a public relations, communications and lobbying firm.
Club Bager, which assures that the lists ceased to be used after the European Commission renewed the glyphosate license for five years in 2017, is considering appealing to the French Council of State.
“Creating contact lists by interest representatives (…) is not in itself illegal,” CNIL said. However, the lists should only include “persons who would reasonably expect it because of their fame or activity”. In addition, the data contained in the files “must be collected legally and individuals must be informed of the existence of the lists so that they can exercise their rights, especially the right to object,” he added.
He described that of information as a “fundamental right”, as the exercise of “other rights”, ie access to the lists, opposition, deletion depends on it. In this case, the exercise of these rights “was hindered for several years,” insisted CNIL.
After the scandal, Bager, owner of the American Monsanto since 2018, apologized and suspended “until recently” its cooperation with Fleishman-Hillard, a subsidiary of the giant Omnicom group.
The case is also the subject criminal investigation in France.
In May, the European Commission gave the green light for the French government to offer tax breaks to farmers who decide not to use glyphosate-based herbicides.
In the United States, according to AMPE, Bayer signed a $ 10 billion deal in June 2020 to file some 125,000 lawsuits against its best-known herbicide, the controversial Roundup, but the deal was partially overturned in May by the United States.
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