Google fined €403m by Irish regulator over location data practices

Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) has imposed a €403 million fine on Google for failing to process location data lawfully, fairly, and transparently. The decision, announced on 21 September 2026, follows a six-year investigation launched in February 2020 after complaints from seven European consumer rights organizations, including the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and Norway's Forbrukerrådet.

The DPC investigation examined Google's handling of location data between May 2018 and February 2020 across services including Google Search, Google Maps, and Android devices. The watchdog found that users may have been unaware their location was being tracked and used to influence advertisements, infer personal interests, and derive sensitive information such as religious beliefs, political leanings, health conditions, and sexual orientation. The investigation also determined that Google retained location data longer than necessary, compounding the loss of user control over personal information.

DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle stated that location data "can greatly enhance the utility of online services, but it can also reveal a significant amount of information about an individual, including information that is inherently private." The fine is the fourth-largest imposed by the Irish regulator, which has EU-wide responsibility for major US technology companies headquartered in Ireland. The DPC has ordered Google to bring its processing into compliance with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) within six months.

Google responded that the case concerns "historical policies that have since been updated." The company stated that from 2019 onwards it has "significantly evolved our practices and launched robust tools that make managing location data simple," including automatic data deletion settings and improved transparency features. Google is understood to be appealing the ruling on legal issues requiring clarification. The European Consumer Organisation welcomed the decision but criticized the duration of the investigation, arguing that delayed enforcement can be as harmful as no enforcement.