Google has become the first tech giant to be hit with a record fine for breaching the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). But experts warn the case is "just the tip of the iceberg".

The €50 million (£44m) fine issued by French regulator CNIL was triggered by complaints relating to how Google handled people's data, and as one of the biggest handlers and processors of people's data in the world it is not surprising that Google was the first to feel the financial consequences of breaching GDPR rules.

The amount was still way below the maximum fine allowed under the new rules, though perhaps more significant than the amount are the implications of the fine on the rest of the tech industry. Data experts warn other major tecnology firms will be next in line due to their lax approach to people's data, with Google's fine potentially representing a seminal moment for people's privacy.

“This decision goes way beyond Google. Indeed, companies like Facebook, Amazon, but also any companies with a similar business model based on the processing of personal data for targeted advertising could be sanctioned to high fines in the near future," said Sonia Cissé, a managing associate at London-based law firm Linklaters.

“More than just a significant amount of money, this sanction is particularly detrimental to Google as it directly challenges its business model and will, in all likelihood, require them to deeply modify their provision of services."

GDPR violations occurring on 'embarrassing' scale

Google may have been the first major tech company to be hit with a fine but many more have been publicly accused of breaching GDPR rules. A wave of complaints against technology giants – including Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Spotify – have accused them of being in violation of Article 15 of GDPR, which requires them to respond to private citizen's data requests.

Research from cloud data firm Talend reveals that the scale stretches far beyond technology firms, with an estimated 74 per cent of UK organisations failing to address requests from individuals seeking to get hold of their personal data within the one-month specified time period. The research, which is based on personal data requests made to 23 companies based or operating in the UK, found that only 17 per cent of companies complied correctly with the requests, while a further 9 per cent gave incomplete or delayed responses.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at California’s Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

Jean-Michel Franco, a senior director at Talend, describes the issue as "embarrassing" and refers to Article 15 as the "Achilles' Heel" of most organisations when it comes to complying with GDPR.

"The world has been on tenterhooks waiting for the first major fine to be enforced for a breach of the GDPR – and this week they got what they were waiting for," Mr Franco said. "There is a great deal of work to do in this area. A delay, or complete lack of a response, will only continue to damage free-falling consumer trust in how organisations store and organise their data."

Google fine a 'warning shot'

The €50 million fine may not seem like a lot for a company the size of Google – last quarter alone Google's parent company Alphabet generated almost 600-times that amount in revenue – but much more severe fines could be imposed in the future.

The maximum amount that firms can be fined under GDPR is €20 million or 4 per cent of global turnover, whichever is larger. For the likes of Google, Amazon and Apple, this figure would stretch well into the billions.

Google may be the first major firm to be hit with a GDPR fine but it almost certainly won't be the last (iStock)

"The penalty imposed on Google by the French regulator can be seen as a warning shot at the digital industry at large," said Ron Moscona, a partner at international law firm Dorsey & Whitney who focuses on privacy rights.