Google Slapped with €403 Million Fine Over Location Data Practices

Google has been hit with a massive fine of €403 million ($459 million) by European regulators for its location data practices. The penalty was issued by Ireland's Data Protection Commission, which acts as Google's lead EU regulator, after a lengthy review of the company's location information process.

The GDPR requires clear consent, fair processing, and limits on data retention. However, the inquiry found that Google failed to meet these requirements in several areas, including location accuracy, which can identify an Android device more precisely than GPS; location history, an opt-in log of places a user has been; and web and app activity, which records activity across Google services.

Google has six months to bring its location-data processing in line with GDPR regulations. The company will need to address how it explains data collection, how long it keeps that information, and whether users are given a fair choice.