Google Fined for Privacy Breaches

A Google building in Mountain View, California, displayed its sign on September 24, 2019.

Google faces a significant penalty of 403 million euros ($463 million) due to violations of European Union privacy regulations. The EU’s data privacy oversight body revealed that Google improperly handled users’ location data.

The issue lies with Google’s processing of location data within the Web & App Activity and the Location History settings. These features track users’ search histories and map their movements via mobile devices. The investigation also highlighted problems with Google’s Location Accuracy feature in the Android operating system.

In the EU, Ireland serves as the principal regulator for Google. This is because the tech giant’s European headquarters are located in Dublin. The Irish Data Protection Commission launched the probe six years ago. It scrutinized Google’s compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation from 2018 to February 2020.

Google responded by stating that the case involved outdated policies, which have since been revised. Since 2019, Google claims to offer enhanced tools for managing location data more efficiently.

Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle noted location data’s dual nature. While it can improve online services, it may also reveal sensitive private details.

This fine ranks as the fourth highest EU privacy penalty given by the Irish Commission. Greater fines were previously imposed on TikTok and Meta, with Meta facing a substantial 1.2 billion euro fine. Additionally, the regulator informed that it has three ongoing privacy inquiries concerning Google.