Google received a fine of 403 million euros ($463 million) for violating the European Union’s privacy regulations. The issue centered on Google’s mishandling of users’ location data, according to the EU’s data privacy authority. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission found Google’s processing of location data in its Web & App Activity and Location History services was not legal or fair. These services track users’ browsing history and physical locations via mobile devices.
Further findings indicated Google’s processing in the Location Accuracy feature of its Android operating system lacked legality, fairness, and transparency. As Google’s European headquarters is in Dublin, the Irish regulator leads such investigations for the 27-nation EU bloc.
The investigation commenced six years ago to assess Google’s adherence to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which became effective in 2018. It covered the period until February 2020. In response, Google stated that it had updated the related policies and enhanced its privacy tools significantly from 2019 onwards.
“Location data can bring both benefits and harms to individuals,” said Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle. “It can enhance online services’ utility, but also disclose considerable personal information.”
This case marked the fourth largest privacy fine by the Irish authority, with prior larger fines imposed on companies like TikTok and Meta. The authority continues to probe three other privacy issues related to Google.
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