Google Hit With €403 Million Fine for Misusing User Data
Google has been fined €403 million ($462 million) for misusing user data related to location history and web browsing activity. The fine was imposed by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), acting on behalf of the European Union, for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The DPC found that Google infringed on GDPR by mishandling users' location data in Web & App Activity and Location History, failing to demonstrate fairness and transparency in its processing of personal data in Location Accuracy on Android, and unlawfully retaining location data.
According to the DPC, Google may have misused users' location history to influence their decisions with targeted advertising. The company has been given six months to comply with the decision and implement changes to its data handling practices.
This is not the first time Google has faced fines for violating GDPR. In July 2026, the European Court of Justice held that Google had violated its dominant position by pushing its own services, resulting in a $4.67 billion penalty. The company also faced a fine of close to $1 billion for allegedly violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA) later that month.