Google Slapped with £345M Fine for Location Data Breaches

The Data Protection Commission in Ireland has fined Google over £345 million for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) related to location data processing.

The investigation into Google's handling of location data was launched six years ago following complaints from European consumer rights organizations.

The commission examined whether Google processed location data lawfully and fairly, and whether the company met its accountability requirements under GDPR. The investigation covered the period from May 25, 2018 to February 4, 2020, focusing on 'web and app activity', 'location history' and 'location accuracy' features.

The regulator determined that Google users may not have known their location information was being used to target them with advertisements or to determine their interests.