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Irish Data Protection Authority Fines Google €403 Million Following Inquiry Into Location Data Processing

The Data Protection Commission (“DPC”) Ireland’s data protection supervisory authority, imposed administrative fines totalling €403 million on Google Ireland Limited (“Google”) following a decision announced on September 21, 2026.

The Decision followed an own-volition Inquiry launched by the DPC in February 2020, in its role as the Lead Supervisory Authority for Google, following complaints from several European consumer rights organisations, including BEUC, regarding Google’s processing of location data. The Inquiry examined Google’s processing of location data between May 25, 2018 and February 4, 2020, across three specific features: “Web & App Activity”, “Location History” and “Location Accuracy”.

Within the scope of the Decision, the DPC made, among others, the following key determinations:

  • A breach of the principles of lawfulness and fairness was established regarding Google’s processing of location data within the “Web & App Activity” and “Location History” features.
  • A breach of accountability obligations under the GDPR was established due to Google’s failure to demonstrate compliance with the principles of lawfulness, fairness and transparency regarding its processing of personal data through “Location Accuracy”.
  • A breach of transparency obligations under the GDPR was established in respect of all three features: “Web & App Activity”, “Location History” and “Location Accuracy”.
  • The DPC also found issues concerning the retention of location data in “Web & App Activity” and “Location History”. In particular, the DPC found that Google retained location data for longer than necessary.

In addition to the €403 million administrative fine, the DPC ordered Google to bring its processing activities into compliance with the GDPR within six months.

Background on the features concerned:

Web & App Activity: A Google Account setting available to Google Account holders that, when enabled, allows Google to process information relating to users’ activity on Google services, including browsing history, search history and location data.

Location History: An opt-in Google service that keeps track of users’ locations and processes their data to infer information such as place visits, activities and paths between place visits. It also utilises a “Timeline” feature, which displays a private map through Google Maps showing where users have travelled, including when they are not actively using a Google service.

Location Accuracy: An Android operating system feature that enables an Android device to determine its location with greater accuracy than relying solely on GPS inputs. It is available to Android users regardless of whether they have a Google Account.

The DPC stated that the full decision will be issued in due course.

You can access the DPC’s official announcement here (English).

 

Kind regards,

Zumbul Attorneys-at-Law

info@zumbul.av.tr

 

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