EU Slaps Google with $463M Fine for Location Data Mishandling

EU regulators have fined Google $463 million for violating European Union privacy rules related to location data handling. The fine is one of several imposed on the tech giant in recent months, including a $1 billion penalty over alleged violations of its Digital Markets Act.

The investigation by Ireland's Data Protection Commission focused on Google's collection and use of users' location data between 2018 and February 2020 through various services, including Web & App Activity, Location History, and the Location Accuracy feature in Android. Regulators found that Google failed to process this personal information lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

The fine is the fourth largest EU privacy penalty issued by Ireland's Data Protection Commission, which has previously imposed larger fines on TikTok and Meta. The regulator noted that three other privacy investigations involving Google remain ongoing.