French court slaps $1.2 million fine on Ikea for spying on employees

The French branch of Ingka Group, which owns most Ikea stores worldwide, was accused of snooping on its workers and some clients over several years.

A French court on Tuesday ordered Ikea to pay a 1 million euro ($1.2 million) fine for spying on its French staff, after the world's biggest furniture retailer was found guilty of improperly gathering and storing data on its employees. The French branch of Ingka Group, which owns most Ikea stores worldwide, was accused of snooping on its workers and some clients over several years. The flatpack furniture group, which has recognised there were some improper practices, was accused of breaching employees' privacy by reviewing records of their bank accounts and sometimes using fake employees to write up reports on staff.