Google and Tinder under Investigation over Use of Data in Europe

Silicon Valley giants Google and Tinder are under investigation over the processing of European users data, regulators in Ireland, where both have their regional bases.

In an announcement made on Tuesday, the Data Protection Commission said it had received an array of complaints from various European consumer associations about the lack of transparency in data processing.

It said its inquiry is set out to establish whether Google and Tinder have a valid legal basis for processing user data and whether they meet their obligations as a data controller with regard to transparency.

MTCH Technology services,the corporate name of match making app Tinder, was in the spotlight over possible systemic data protection issues.

For Google, the Data Protection Commission said it had received complaints over its processing of location data.

It is the responsibility of Ireland’s regulators to ensure compliance with the European General Data Protection Regulations as both companies European headquarters are in the country.

Google told AFP it will cooperate fully with the investigation and says it will work closely with regulators and consumer associations across Europe.

Google has separately been under investigation of Data Protection Commission since May over data protection in the field of online advertising.

The location data case was launched after Google’s parent company Alphabet released mixed financial results for the last quarter of 2019 causing its share price to fall.