Google fined more than €400m by Irish regulator over its use of location data
Watchdog says users may have been unaware their information was used to target adverts or infer their interests Google has been fined more than €400m (£345m) over the way it processed users’ location data, following claims that the tech giant had manipulated users into agreeing to be constantly tracked on their mobile phones. The fine, imposed by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), comes…
Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) has levied a substantial fine of over €400 million against Google for its processing of users' location data. The fine was imposed following complaints from multiple European consumer organisations, who alleged that Google manipulated users into agreeing to constant tracking on their mobile phones.
The DPC inquiry was prompted by research conducted by the Norwegian consumer agency in 2018, which highlighted the potential for location data to reveal sensitive information such as religious beliefs, political leanings, health conditions, and sexual orientation.
Graham Doyle, a deputy commissioner at the DPC, explained that location data is a form of personal information that can be inferred when combined with other data. He emphasized that while location data can enhance online services, it also has the potential to reveal private information. Google's spokesperson acknowledged that the case centered around outdated policies, which were updated from 2019 onwards, and that the company has since implemented robust tools for managing location data.
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) argued that the fine marks an important milestone in protecting online rights, stressing that users must understand what they are agreeing to without being deceived or manipulated. Agustín Reyna, director general of BEUC, welcomed the ruling but criticized the time taken to reach the decision, arguing that delayed enforcement can be as harmful as no enforcement at all.
The DPC inquiry examined Google's practices regarding web and app activity, location history, and location accuracy between May 25, 2018, and February 4, 2020. The regulator imposed the fine, ordering Google to bring its processing in compliance with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) within six months. This fine marks the fourth-largest fine imposed by the Irish regulator, which has EU-wide responsibility for all tech giants with EU headquarters in Ireland.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Technology's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
