On September 21, 2026, Ireland's Data Protection Commission fined Google €403 million ($463 million) for violating EU General Data Protection Regulation rules. The penalty follows a 2020 investigation sparked by consumer complaints into how Google processed location data in web activity and location history. Regulators warned these practices left users unaware of targeted ads, while Google countered that the case focuses on historical policies.
Irish DPC fine against Google
- ▪Ireland's Data Protection Commission fined Alphabet Inc.'s Google €403 million ($463 million) on September 21, 2026, for breaching European Union privacy rules
- ▪Google stated on September 21, 2026, that the Irish Data Protection Commission's location data privacy case focuses on Google's historical policies regarding how it processed location data in web and app activity and location history
GDPR location data violations
- ▪The Irish Data Protection Commission found that Google infringed General Data Protection Regulation rules regarding how it processed location data in web and app activity, as well as location history
- ▪The Irish Data Protection Commission's September 21, 2026, fine against Google followed a 2020 investigation into Google's handling of location data in web activity and location history, launched after complaints from several European consumer rights organizations
User location tracking and advertising practices
- ▪The Irish Data Protection Commission stated that Google's location data practices could cause users to lose control over their personal data or allow Google to infer their interests
- ▪The Irish Data Protection Commission stated that Google's location data handling failures could leave users unaware that their location was being used to influence them with advertisements
Debatable claims
- ▪Google's location tracking practices violate fundamental user privacy rights
- ▪The Irish DPC's $463 million fine against Google is justified
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