Google Slapped with €403M GDPR Fine Over Location Tracking Practices

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) in Ireland has fined Google €403 million for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The fine is related to Google's processing of users' location data from May 25, 2018, to February 4, 2020. The inquiry was launched on its own initiative after receiving complaints from European consumer-rights organizations.

The DPC found that Google had violated the GDPR by failing to demonstrate compliance with the principle of lawfulness, fairness, and transparency in processing personal data through Location Accuracy. This allowed individuals to be unaware that their location was being used for targeted advertising or to infer their interests.

Graham Doyle, Deputy Commissioner, stated that users could have lost control over their personal data due to Google's failures. The DPC has ordered Google to bring its processing of location data into compliance within six months.