Google Hit With $463M Fine for EU Location Data Rule Breach

Google has been slapped with a $463 million fine for violating EU location data rules. The European Union's Data Protection Commission fined Google 403 million euros ($463 million) after an investigation found that the tech giant mishandled users' location data.

The investigation, which began six years ago, looked at how Google applied the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) from its inception in 2018 until February 2020. Regulators said Google did not lawfully or fairly process location data in several features, including Web & App Activity and Location History.

Google's handling of location data was deemed a breach of EU rules, which consider such information to be personal data that can reveal a person's location. The company's Deputy Commissioner, Graham Doyle, noted that location data has both benefits and harms, as it can enhance online services but also reveal private information.

The fine is the fourth largest issued by Ireland's Data Protection Commission, following larger fines for TikTok and Meta. Google stated that its practices have since been updated and that users now have easier tools to manage their location data.