Google faces €403 million fine for violating EU location data regulations

European Interest reports that the Data Protection Commission's investigation found that Google did not lawfully or fairly process location data in users' Web & App Activity[2] or in Location History.The DPC said in its announcement that its inquiry covered three specific features – "Web & App Activity", "Location History" and "Location Accuracy" between the date of application of the GDPR, 25 May 2018 to 4 February 2020.[3]According to the regulator, it has ordered Google to bring its processing into compliance within 6 months.[3]Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said that because of Google's failures, people "could have been unaware that their location was being used to, for example, influence them with ads or to infer their interests"[3], the DPC reports.France 24 reports that Google said the "case centres around historical policies that have since been updated".[1]The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) called the ruling "an important decision, close to eight years after a series of complaints"[1], according to France 24. The outlet adds that BEUC also criticised the delay, saying it "can be as harmful as no enforcement at all".[1]Fortune reports that it's the fourth biggest EU privacy fine issued by the Irish watchdog[4]. Engadget reports the DPC as saying there are "three other ongoing statutory large-scale inquiries open that concern Google, all of which are at an advanced stage.[5]