Google hit with $463 million fine for EU location data rule breach
The commission said Google failed to process location data lawfully and ordered changes within six months after finding users could lose control of personal data.
- On Monday, the Data Protection Commission fined Alphabet's Google €403 million following an inquiry into the tech giant's processing of location data.
- The DPC launched this inquiry six years ago following complaints from European consumer rights organizations; users were often unaware their location was used to infer interests or target ads.
- Investigators examined "web and app activity," "location history," and "location accuracy" between May 25, 2018, and February 4, 2020, finding that retaining data longer than necessary aggravated users' loss of control.
- Within six months, Google must bring its processing into compliance; a company spokesperson claimed they have "significantly evolved our practices" and launched new management tools since 2019.
- This penalty stands as the fourth-largest fine issued by the DPC since General Data Protection Regulation implementation, while three other large-scale statutory inquiries concerning Google remain open at an advanced stage.
394 Articles
394 Articles
Google fined €403 million in Ireland over location data practices, must comply in 6 months
European regulators imposed a major sanction on Google over users' location information with a penalty of €403 million ($459 million). Google has six months to make its location-data practices compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation. Here's what to know Since Google's European headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland's Data Protection Commission acts as the company's lead EU regulator. The fine was issued after a lengthy review of Googl…
Google Location Data Fine Set at US$462 Million by Irish Regulator
Pan-African · TECHNOLOGY Key Facts —What happened Google was fined 403 million euros (about US$462 million) by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission on 21 September 2026. —What the regulator found The watchdog said Google’s location data processing was not lawful, fair or transparent, and that data was kept too long. —The period The inquiry covered 25 […]
Google Hit With €403 Million Fine as EU Privacy Scrutiny Intensifies
Ireland's Data Protection Commission fined Google €403 million ($462 million) for GDPR violations in handling location data from 2018-2020. The decision highlights failures in lawfulness, fairness, transparency and data retention across key features, ordering fixes within six months. Google calls the issues historical.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 36% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
