EU Regulator Fines Google Over 400 Million Euros for Location Data Violations
Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google 403 million euros for violating EU data protection law in how it handled users' location data between 2018 and 2020.
Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) has imposed a fine of 403 million euros on Google for breaching the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The violations cover the period from May 2018 to February 2020.
Investigation findings
The DPC opened its investigation into Google's practices in February 2020. It concluded that the company failed to meet GDPR requirements concerning the lawfulness and fairness of how it processed users' location data across its websites, apps, and location history features.
Users unaware of data use
According to the commission, users may not have been aware that their location data was being used for purposes such as advertising or drawing conclusions about their interests. This indicates Google processed the data without adequately informing users or obtaining proper consent, as required under EU data protection rules.
Deadline to fix issues
The commission has ordered Google to correct the identified shortcomings within six months. The decision forms part of the European Union's broader oversight of how major technology companies handle users' personal data.
