Google Slapped with €403M Fine Over Location Data Practices
Google has been fined €403 million by Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) for violating GDPR regulations regarding location data. The fine is a result of an investigation that began in February 2020, following complaints from European consumer groups about how Google handled location data.
The DPC found several problems with how Google processed location data, including the company's failure to provide transparency and user control over the data. The investigation covered three specific features: Web & App Activity, Location History, and Location Accuracy. These features track users' movements and build profiles of their interests.
Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle stated that location data can reveal a significant amount of information about an individual's private life, including where they work, who they see, what they believe, and what they might be hiding. The GDPR requires companies to process personal data in a lawful, fair, and transparent way.
The DPC gave Google six months to bring its data processing practices in line with the GDPR. This is not the first dispute between Google and Ireland's regulator, and the company may face further scrutiny as location and behavioral data remain important to its advertising business.