Google fined over £345m for location data privacy breaches

The Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has imposed a substantial fine of over £345 million on Google for breaching the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) related to the handling of location data. The investigation, initiated six years ago following complaints from European consumer rights organizations, examined Google's practices concerning location data processing.

The commission scrutinized whether Google had lawfully and fairly processed location data and whether the company fulfilled its accountability obligations under GDPR. The investigation analyzed web and app activity, location history, and location accuracy features between May 25, 2018, and February 4, 2020. The regulator concluded that users might have been unaware that their location information was used for ad targeting or interest determination.

Google has been given six months to rectify its data processing methods. This fine ranks as the fourth largest since the GDPR's implementation.