Irish data watchdog orders Google to overhaul location tracking within six months

The Data Protection Commission of Ireland issued a €403 million sanction against Google, demanding rapid changes to its location‑tracking practices. The order requires the company to align its data‑processing activities with GDPR standards by the end of a six‑month period.

Google’s location‑history tool, which users may enable voluntarily, captures continuous GPS data and later derives insights about frequented spots and travel routes. The regulator found that Google failed to provide clear information to users about how their data would be used for ad targeting or interest profiling.

Commissioner Graham Doyle warned that retaining such detailed location data longer than necessary intensifies privacy risks. The decision reflects a broader European push to enforce stricter data‑protection rules on multinational technology platforms.