Dive Brief: 

• Google has just agreed to pay a total of $17 million in 37 different states after efforts to get around Apple's Safari cookie restrictions backfired. 
• This fine follows a $22.5 million fine Google paid to the Federal Trade Commission for the same actions. 
• Google developed a workaround for cookie blockers and was able to place cookies onto computers of Safari users with their DoubleClick ad exchange. The tech giant claims the cookies were not collecting personal information.

Dive Insight: 

On some level, Google had to know they were risking the privacy suit when they engaged in such a shady practice and decided that the risk was worth the reward. Information they gathered could be useful as the internet becomes increasingly cookie-free, and they aren't the only advertising-dependent company searching for alternatives.