Google Slapped with €403M Fine for Misusing User Location Data
Google has been fined €403 million ($463 million) by Ireland's Data Protection Commission for violating the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The fine is related to Google's handling of users' location data, specifically in its Web & App Activity setting and Location History service.
The commission found that Google did not lawfully or fairly process user location data. This means that Google collected and stored location data without obtaining the necessary consent from users. The investigation was triggered by complaints filed with the Data Protection Commission.
Google's actions are in breach of Article 6 of the GDPR, which requires organizations to obtain explicit consent from individuals before processing their personal data. The fine is a significant blow to Google and serves as a warning to other tech companies that they must comply with EU regulations on data protection.