Google Slapped with €403 Million Fine Over Location Data Breach
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined Alphabet's Google €403 million for breaching European Union privacy rules regarding location data. The fine is one of the largest imposed by the DPC since the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018.
The regulator found that Google infringed GDPR through three features: 'Web & App Activity', 'Location History', and 'Location Accuracy' between 2018 and 2020. The DPC said users could have been unaware that their location information was being used for purposes such as influencing advertising or inferring their interests.
As a result of Google's failures, individuals could lose control over their personal data, according to Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle. Alongside the fine, the DPC ordered Google to bring its processing of location data into compliance within six months.