INTERNET
French agency fines Google $57m for data privacy violation
After European policymakers adopted a sweeping data privacy law last year, the big question had been how regulators would use their newfound authority against the most powerful technology companies. The first major example came Monday when the French data protection authority announced that it had fined Google 50 million euros, or about $57 million, for not properly disclosing to users how data is collected across its services — including its search engine, Google Maps, and YouTube — to present personalized advertisements. The penalty is the largest to date under the European Union privacy law, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, which took effect in May, and shows that regulators are following through on a pledge to use the rules to push back against Internet companies whose businesses depend on collecting data. Facebook is also a subject of several investigations by data protection authorities in Europe. — NEW YORK TIMES
ENERGY
Bill filed to speed up transition to renewable energy in Massachusetts
A bill filed at the Massachusetts State House seeks to help speed the state’s transition to renewable forms of energy. The bill would update the state’s 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act by setting new emissions level requirements: 50 percent below 1990 emissions levels by 2030, 75 percent below by 2040, and net zero emissions by 2050. The Global Warming Solutions Act requires the state to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The bill was filed jointly by Senator Marc Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat, and Representative Ruth Balser, a Newton Democrat. Lawmakers last year proposed a bill that would press Massachusetts to achieve total renewable electricity generation by 2035 and phase out fossil fuels across all sectors, including heating and transportation, by mid-century. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
SKIING
Mass. resort apologizes to employees who were told snow is no reason to miss work
A Massachusetts ski resort has issued an apology over a letter that told employees an incoming snowstorm was no excuse for missing work. In a statement issued Saturday, Jiminy Peak officials said the letter ‘‘does not represent the tone or concern’’ they have for employees and guests. The letter, which was addressed to all employees, said ‘‘if thousands of skiers can make it to Jiminy, so can you.’’ It also said that there were no accommodations available for employees considering staying overnight. Jiminy officials say the letter was posted by a manager at a restaurant at the ski resort. The resort says the manager was ‘‘overzealous’’ in his language, tone, and approach, which don’t reflect employee policies. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
GASOLINE
Prices at the pump continue to drop
Gasoline prices continue to fall across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. AAA Northeast reports that average prices in Massachusetts fell three cents over the past week to $2.41 for a gallon of regular unleaded. That is 12 cents lower than at the start of the year. The average price in Rhode Island is reported at $2.36, down a dime from the beginning of January. The average price reported a year ago was $2.51 in Massachusetts and $2.54 in Rhode Island. AAA says prices in the region remain higher than the national average, which at last check was $2.24 a gallon. AAA says it pays to shop around. It found prices ranged from $2.17 to $3.05 in Massachusetts and from $2.23 to a high of $2.59 in Rhode Island.
— ASSOCIATED PRESS
GOVERNMENT
TSA workers continue to stay home during shutdown
The number of US airport screeners who took unscheduled absences rose to 10 percent on Sunday, more than triple that of a year ago as the stalemate over the government shutdown continued over a holiday weekend, according to the Transportation Security Administration. The number of unscheduled TSA absences hit the highest level seen so far, the TSA said in a statement Monday as the shutdown entered its 31st day. A year ago the absence rate was 3.1 percent. “Many employees are reporting that they are not able to report to work due to financial limitations,” according to the statement. Airport screeners are in a category of workers including FBI agents and border patrol officers who are considered “essential” and therefore required to work without pay during the shutdown. The worst delays on Sunday were reported at the main airport in New Orleans, the TSA reported, though it said 99.9 percent of passengers waited less than 30 minutes. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
SOCIAL MEDIA