Irish regulator investigating whether Google violates GDPR with data collection

The Irish privacy regulator Data Protection Commission is investigating whether search giant Google is violating the General Data Protection Regulation with the data collection for personalized advertisements. The committee announced this on Wednesday.

The Irish regulator is going to look at how Google collects and stores data for its Ad Exchange, according to the notification. In addition, the Data Protection Commission wants to know whether this is in line with the AVG, the European privacy legislation that came into effect a year ago.

The investigation comes after a report from, among others, Johnny Ryan, CEO of the company that makes the Brave Browser. He has put the evidence he sent to the Irish Privacy Commission publicly online and written an argument. The privacy commission in Ireland started an investigation into advertising organization IAB Europe after a complaint from Ryan. That happened last month.

It is unknown if and when the Irish commission’s inquiry will be completed. Google has its European headquarters in Ireland. Google was fined in France in January for violating the GDPR.