European Union fines Google US$462mil for data location breach
DUBLIN: Ireland’s data protection watchdog, acting on behalf of the European Union, said Monday that it had fined Google 403 million euros (US$462 million) for improperly using users’ location data.
European Union regulators have imposed a significant fine on Google, totaling 403 million euros (US$462 million), for improper use of users' location data. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), representing the EU, announced the fine on Monday, citing Google's violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) between May 2018 and February 2020.
The DPC, responsible for enforcing the EU's data protection rules, determined that Google had mishandled location data within web and app activities, potentially misleading users and limiting their control over their information. DPC deputy commissioner Graham Doyle emphasized that Google's retention of location data beyond its necessity further eroded users' control.
Alongside the hefty fine, the DPC mandated Google to rectify its practices within a six-month timeframe. In response, Google maintained that the issue stemmed from outdated policies, stating that they have since implemented substantial improvements and tools to simplify the management of location data.
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