Google faces a fine of 403 million euros ($463 million) for violating the European Union’s privacy rules. The fine relates to the mishandling of users’ location data, as reported by the EU’s data privacy watchdog.
According to Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, Google failed to process location data lawfully or fairly. This issue was evident in the company’s Web & App Activity feature, which monitors browsing and search histories, and in Location History, which records places users visit with their mobile devices.
Regulators also identified problems with Google’s processing of personal data through the Location Accuracy feature in Android. The EU considers Google to be under Ireland’s jurisdiction because the company’s European headquarters is in Dublin.
The investigation began six years ago, focusing on Google’s application of the General Data Protection Regulation from 2018 to February 2020. Google stated that its policies have evolved significantly since 2019, introducing tools to simplify managing location data.
“This case centers around historical policies that have since been updated,” Google remarked.
Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle noted that location data can have both positive and negative impacts. While it enhances the use of online services, it can also reveal substantial personal information.
This fine marks the fourth largest privacy penalty imposed by the Irish watchdog, which has previously fined TikTok and Meta, including a 1.2 billion euro penalty for Meta. Currently, three other privacy investigations involving Google remain in progress.
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