Google has been fined more than €400m (£345m) over the way it processed users’ location data, following claims that the tech giant had manipulated users into agreeing to be constantly tracked on their mobile phones.
The fine, by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), comes after complaints from multiple European consumer organisations that Google was following every step users took.
The DPC launched its inquiry six years ago and set out to find out whether Google had a valid legal basis for its use of location data.
It found that Google users could have been unaware that their location was being used to influence them with adverts or to gather details about their health and interests.
The DPC inquiry looked at “web and app activity”, “location history” and “location accuracy” settings on Android phones and Google accounts.
The regulator found failures in lawfulness, fairness, transparency, accountability, and retention. Google must bring processing into compliance within six months.
Google said the case concerns historical policies that have since been updated from 2019 onwards. The full decision text had not yet been published at the time of the announcement.