New Delhi, September 21 (Daily Kiran) : The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has imposed a hefty fine of €403 million (approximately ₹4,000 crore) on Google. This decision, announced on September 21, 2026, requires the tech giant to align its location data processing systems with regulatory standards within six months.
The case centers on Google’s “Location History” service, which tracks users’ locations through their mobile devices. This feature is only activated for users who voluntarily opt in, allowing Google to analyze their data and infer information about visited locations, activities, and travel patterns.
The EU’s data privacy regulators found that Google violated several provisions under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), specifically regarding legality, fairness, and transparency in data handling. They noted that Google failed to demonstrate compliance with GDPR principles in processing data related to web and app activity, location history, and location accuracy.
Moreover, the DPC discovered that Google retained users’ location data for longer than necessary, contravening data protection laws. Graham Doyle, Deputy Commissioner of the DPC, emphasized that location data is a highly sensitive type of personal information. While it can enhance the utility of online services, it can also reveal numerous private details about individuals.
Doyle pointed out that without full disclosure, users may not understand how their location data is used for targeted advertising or interest profiling, potentially leading to a loss of control over their personal information. The extended retention of this data exacerbates the situation.
Under GDPR, personal data in the European Economic Area (EEA) is afforded a high level of protection, requiring that data usage be legal, fair, and transparent. The DPC has indicated that a detailed ruling regarding this case will be released later.
This enforcement action comes at a time when regulators worldwide are intensifying scrutiny of major tech companies’ data collection, usage, and privacy policies. The ruling represents a significant setback for Google concerning data protection and user privacy issues.
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