Google Slapped With $462M Fine Over Location Data Abuse

The European Union's Data Protection Commission has fined Google $462 million for improperly using users' location data. This is the fourth-largest fine imposed by the DPC, which oversees Google at the European level due to its headquarters in Ireland.

The infringement occurred between May 2018 and February 2020, when Google processed location data without obtaining proper consent from users. The regulator found that this practice infringed on the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

DPC deputy commissioner Graham Doyle stated that individuals could have been unaware of their location being used for targeted ads or to infer their interests.

The fine is part of a larger investigation, with Google also facing three other investigations by the DPC. These include proceedings regarding the use of Europeans' personal data to train Google's artificial intelligence.