VTechFusion Team
VTechFusion Technologies
Ireland's Data Protection Commission fined Google Ireland Limited €403 million on Monday, September 21, 2026, following a six-year inquiry into how the company processed users' location data.
Three Features Under Review
The DPC examined Web & App Activity, Location History and Location Accuracy for the period from May 25, 2018, when GDPR took effect, to February 4, 2020. It found that Google processed location data unlawfully, unfairly and without transparency across all three.
What the Regulator Objected To
The DPC found insufficient disclosure that location data could be used for targeted advertising or for inferring users' interests, and that some data was retained longer than necessary.
Six Months to Comply
The decision orders Google to bring its processing into compliance within six months. The fine is the DPC's fourth-largest sanction since GDPR took effect in 2018.
The Lesson for Every Data-Driven Business
The case turns on two ordinary failures: not clearly telling people how their data would be used, and keeping it too long. Any business collecting location or behavioral data should be able to show exactly what users were told, for which purpose, and when the data is deleted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was Google fined by Ireland's DPC?
€403 million, announced on September 21, 2026.
What did the DPC find Google did wrong?
It processed location data unlawfully, unfairly and without transparency across Web & App Activity, Location History and Location Accuracy, with insufficient disclosure of advertising use and over-long retention.
What period did the inquiry cover?
May 25, 2018 to February 4, 2020.
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