Google Fined for EU Privacy Rules Breach

Google has been fined 403 million euros ($463 million) for violating the European Union’s privacy regulations. The penalty is a result of mishandling users’ location data, according to the EU’s data privacy watchdog.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, responsible for Google in the EU due to its headquarters in Dublin, led the six-year investigation. It found Google did not process location data lawfully or fairly in several services, including Web & App Activity and Location History. These settings track browsing, search history, and map users’ locations via mobile phones.

Regulators criticized Google’s processing of personal data through its Location Accuracy feature on Android devices. The investigation covered Google’s application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) from 2018 to February 2020.

“This case centers around historical policies that have since been updated,” Google stated. They claim to have improved their practices significantly since 2019 and introduced tools for easier location data management.

Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle highlighted the dual nature of location data. He noted its potential to both improve online services and expose private information.

The fine is the fourth largest the Irish regulator has issued, with larger penalties previously imposed on TikTok and Meta. The watchdog still has three other privacy probes open involving Google.