Google Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google EUR 403 million. That is close to Rs. 4,000 crore. The fine relates to how Google handled users' location data. It follows a six-year investigation under Europe's privacy law, known as GDPR. The case has drawn widespread attention across the tech industry.
Regulators looked at three Google features. These were Web & App Activity, Location History, and Location Accuracy. The review covered how these services handled data between May 2018 and February 2020. The case began after European consumer groups filed complaints in 2020. The inquiry reached a final decision more than six years after it was launched.
The Data Protection Commission said Google broke GDPR rules on lawfulness, fairness, and transparency. Location data can reveal sensitive details about daily life. This includes where a person lives, works, travels, or spends time. Regulators said users need clear information and simple controls over this data.
The inquiry also studied Google's settings pages. The Commission said some of the wording and design may have made it hard for users to understand their choices. This may have limited their control over their own location data. These findings apply only to the period under review, not to Google's current practices.
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Google said the case is about old policies. The company said it has made changes since the year 2019. These include simpler settings, easier options for deleting data, and less precise location tracking in some cases. Google has also said it plans to review the ruling closely.
The Commission has also ordered Google to fix its practices within six months. The company must bring its location data handling fully in line with GDPR rules. This fine is the fourth-largest issued by Ireland's privacy regulator.
The case adds to a wider pattern. Big tech firms are facing more scrutiny over how they collect and use location data. Many users still do not fully know how much of their movement is being tracked, and regulators say that needs to change.