Ireland fines Google 403 million euros over location data

Google has been hit with a major setback over location data. Ireland's Data Protection Commission, or DPC, has fined the company 403 million euros. The action concerns how Google collected users' location data, how it processed that data, and how clearly it informed users about the use of this data.

The DPC's investigation covered three Google features: Web and App Activity, Location History and Location Accuracy. The inquiry covers the period between May 2018 and February 2020. The regulator says users were not given adequate and clear information about how location data was used through these features and for how long it was retained.

The regulator also said in its order that location data could be used to influence advertising or to gauge users' likes and dislikes. This means many users may not have fully known the actual purpose for which their location data was being used. The DPC also objected to the fact that the data was stored for longer than necessary.

Along with the 403 million euro fine, Google has also been ordered to bring its location data processing practices in line with GDPR rules within six months. In response, Google said the matter relates to its old policy, and the company clarified that since 2019 it has implemented greater controls, features such as auto-delete, and several other measures for location data management.

The action has once again raised serious questions about the use of personal data by tech companies.