EU Slaps Google with $463 Million Fine Over Location Data Breach

Google has been hit with a massive fine by the European Union after an investigation into its handling of location data. The Alphabet-owned search engine was ordered to pay 403 million euros, equivalent to around $463 million, following a probe into three specific features: 'Web & App Activity,' 'Location History,' and 'Location Accuracy.'

The Data Protection Commission (DCP) in Ireland found that Google breached the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules from 2018 to 2020. The DCP stated that individuals may have been unaware of how their location data was being used, such as influencing ad targeting or inferring interests.

Google has been given six months to bring its processing into compliance with EU regulations. In response, the company said it had since updated its policies and launched tools to simplify managing location data. The fine is the fourth-largest levied by the DCP under GDPR rules.