Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) released a statement launching their investigation into Google’s Irish subsidiary to determine whether the company meets transparency obligations under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or has a valid legal basis for processing the location data of its users.

The DPC states that it has received numerous complaints from various Consumer Organizations across the EU.

The issues raised within the concerns relate to the legality of Google’s processing of location data and the transparency surrounding that processing. As such the DPC has commenced an own-volition Statutory Inquiry, with respect to Google Ireland Limited, pursuant to Section 110 of the Data Protection 2018 and in accordance with the co-operation mechanism outlined Article 60 of the GDPR.

The commission is the national independent supervisory authority in Ireland with responsibility for upholding the fundamental right of the individual to have their personal data protected. The DPC’s statutory powers, functions and duties derive from the Data Protection Act 2018, General Data Protection Regulation, Law Enforcement Directive, and the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2003. The DPC examines data infringement complaints, conducts investigations, and creates and promotes data protection legislation.

The DPC has a total of 23 inquiries into U.S.-based tech companies, including Facebook and Twitter.

(Published by Jurist Org, February 5, 2020)
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