Ireland Fines Google $463M Over Location Data
Ireland’s data protection regulator has issued a $463 million fine against Google for handling user location information, according to a report by the Daily Hodl. The penalty follows an inquiry by the Data Protection Commission into the company’s processing of location data spanning from May 2018 to February 2020.
Regulators identified multiple violations of European Union privacy rules tied to three specific features, which include Web & App Activity, Location History, and Location Accuracy. Investigators found that Google retained users’ location records longer than necessary. The enforcement probe originated in February 2020 following formal complaints from European consumer advocacy groups, including BEUC.
Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle noted that individuals may have been entirely unaware that their personal location data was feeding targeted advertising or interest profiles. Doyle stated that retaining this information past the necessary timeframe aggravated a loss of personal data control for users.
Under the terms of the decision, Google is required to bring its data processing operations into full compliance within six months. Google responded by characterizing the case as a matter involving historical policies, pointing out that it has introduced auto-delete options, on-device Timeline storage, and broader user controls regarding advertising location data since 2019.
This enforcement action stands as the fourth-largest penalty issued by the Irish Data Protection Commission against a major technology corporation.
Based on reporting by dailyhodl.com.
