The European Union has fined Google €403 million for improperly processing users’ location data, Ireland’s data regulator said Monday. The Data Protection Commission (DPC) imposed the penalty after consumer groups raised complaints about Google’s practices.
The fine represents the DPC’s fourth-largest penalty, according to the regulator. The commission oversees Google at the European level because the company maintains its European headquarters in Ireland.
Google Found in Breach of GDPR
The DPC found that Google breached the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) between May 2018 and February 2020. The regulator opened its investigation in February 2020 and has now issued its final decision.
According to the DPC, Google failed to process location data lawfully and fairly. The findings covered information collected through web and app activity, as well as location history.
DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said users may not have understood how Google used their location information. He said the data could influence advertisements or help Google infer users’ interests.
Doyle also said Google retained users’ location information longer than necessary. According to him, this further reduced users’ control over their personal data.
Google Says Policies Have Changed
Alongside the financial penalty, the DPC ordered Google to comply with GDPR requirements within six months. The regulator said the company must address the issues identified during its investigation.
Google responded that the case involved historical policies that the company has since updated. The technology giant said it had significantly changed its practices from 2019 onwards.
The company also said it introduced tools that make location-data management easier for users. Meanwhile, the DPC’s decision highlights continuing European scrutiny of how major technology companies handle personal information.
The penalty follows broader EU efforts to enforce data protection rules. It also underscores regulators’ focus on transparency and user control over sensitive digital information.
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