After launching an investigation in 2020, the Irish DPC ruled that Google violated the GDPR and fined it 403 million euros for its processing of location data.
The Irish Privacy Commissioner has Google fined €403 million For processing location data. The DPC (Data Protection Commission) launched an ex-officio investigation in 2020 following complaints from several European organizations regarding the processing of location data. Let’s try to better understand what happened and the consequences for Google now.
Location data processing and investigation
As expected, the DPC launched an investigation in February 2020 Some complaints from European organizationsincluding BEUC (the leading organization representing and defending consumer interests). The focus of the investigation is Google’s processing of location data Three different features, namely “Web & App Activity,” “Location History,” and “Location Accuracy,” specifically target the period from May 25, 2018, to February 4, 2020.
Data Protection Commissioners Des Hogan, Dale Sunderland and Niamh Sweeney found that Google violated GDPR. In particular, it cannot demonstrate compliance with Correctness and Transparency Principles “Relating to the processing of personal data in the location accuracy feature”. Furthermore, it violates the GDPR’s transparency obligations regarding all three of the aforementioned functions, as well as location data retention.
Sanctions and Risks for Users
The DPC subsequently imposed administrative fines totaling €403 million and ordered Google Adapt your treatment to the legislation within 6 months. But what exactly does all this mean? As useful as the location feature is, collecting location data allows you to Recreate the places visited and the habits of its usersallowing you to get more information about a person and their interests.
Google receives nearly 1 billion euros fine from EU
Among other things, the data can be used Influence the ads shown to users. It is for this reason that the DPC claims that retaining them for longer than necessary further reduces users’ control over their personal information. At the same time, Google made it clear that the case “involves prior policies.” Updated with new tools in 2019 Manage location data.