Ireland Fines Google €403 Million Over User Location Data

The Data Protection Commission of Ireland fined Google €403 million ($463 million) on September 21, 2026, for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The penalty, the fourth-largest issued by the Irish regulator, follows a 2020 inquiry triggered by complaints from European consumer rights organizations.

The regulator found that between May 25, 2018, and February 4, 2020, Google failed to process location data lawfully, fairly, and transparently through its Location History, Web & App Activity, and Location Accuracy features. The commission determined that these failures could leave users unaware that their data was being used to infer private interests or influence them with advertisements. The regulator further noted that the loss of user control was aggravated by Google retaining data longer than necessary.

Google has six months to bring its data processing into compliance with EU privacy rules. A company spokesperson stated that the case centers on historical policies that have since been updated. Google noted it has since evolved its practices by launching tools for automatic data deletion and shifting Timeline data storage directly to users' devices to simplify data management.

The Data Protection Commission of Ireland is currently conducting three other investigations into the company.