Google hit with $463 million fine for EU location data rule breach

Google has been ordered to pay a hefty fine of 403 million euros ($463 million) for violating European Union privacy regulations regarding the handling of users' location data. The European Union's data protection watchdog revealed on Monday that Ireland's Data Protection Commission conducted an investigation and found that Google unlawfully and unfairly processed location data in users' Web & App Activity, a setting that tracks browsing and search history, and in their Location History, a service that maps places they've been using their mobile phones.

The investigation, which began six years ago, examined Google's adherence to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) from its implementation in 2018 to February 2020. Google stated that while the case concerns historical policies that have since been updated, the company has significantly improved its practices and introduced robust tools to simplify managing location data since 2019.

Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle emphasized that location data, which can be used to infer someone's location, brings benefits and harms to individuals, revealing private information. This marks the fourth-largest EU privacy fine issued by the Irish watchdog, who has previously imposed larger fines on TikTok and Meta, including a 1.2 billion euro penalty for Meta.

The watchdog also announced that they are still investigating three other ongoing privacy cases involving Google.