Tech giants Google are being investigated by the Data Protection Commission, it has been announced.
Google Ireland’s processing of personal data, in the context of its online Ad Exchange, is set to be examined after the DPC received a number of reports from people in relation to their personal information.
The purpose of the inquiry is to decide whether the processing of personal data at each stage complies with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Issues were raised by Dr Johnny Ryan, Chief Policy Officer at Brave, which is a private web browser.
Dr Ryan said his evidence to the DPC "revealed a massive and ongoing data breach" in which Google’s DoubleClick/Authorized Buyers "leaks intimate data about the people visiting these websites to thousands of companies every day".
The DPC said in a statement: “Arising from the Data Protection Commission’s ongoing examination of data protection compliance in the area of personalised online advertising and a number of submissions to the Data Protection Commission, including those made by Dr. Johnny Ryan of Brave, a statutory inquiry pursuant to section 110 of the Data Protection Act 2018 has been commenced in respect of Google Ireland Limited’s processing of personal data in the context of its online Ad Exchange.
“The purpose of the inquiry is to establish whether processing of personal data carried out at each stage of an advertising transaction is in compliance with the relevant provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR principles of transparency and data minimisation, as well as Google’s retention practices, will also be examined.”
Google said in a statement: "We will engage fully with the DPC’s investigation and welcome the opportunity for further clarification of Europe’s data protection rules for real-time bidding.
"Authorized buyers using our systems are subject to stringent policies and standards."
Google's Irish office is the European HQ and is located on Barrow Street in Dublin 4.
