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Google and Tinder are facing regulatory investigations in the European Union over their use of users' personal data.
The investigations were announced by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) which is the lead privacy regulator for both businesses across the EU because both Google and Tinder's parent company Match Group have headquarters in the Republic of Ireland.
Both companies could face fines of up to 4% of their global annual turnover if they are found to have committed particularly egregious breaches of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDOR).
Image:Tinder is also being probed for its handling of user data
According to the DPC, the investigation into Google will look into the legality of how it processes location data and whether it is tracking people and selling that information in a transparent way.
The investigation into Tinder will check whether it is transparent about the data it collects on its users and shares on with advertising partners.
Privacy activists have expressed concern about how the GDPR assigns responsibility for so many large technology companies to the DPC just because the companies have their European HQs in the country.
Despite having opened a number of large investigations into technology companies suspected of data malpractice since the GDPR became active, the DPC has yet to make any decisions in those cases.
A spokesperson for Google said: "People should be able to understand and control how companies like Google use location data to provide services to them.
"We will cooperate fully with the office of the Data Protection Commission in its inquiry, and continue to work closely with regulators and consumer associations across Europe.
"In the last year, we have made a number of product changes to improve the level of user transparency and control over location data," they added.
A spokesperson for Match Group told Sky News: "Transparency and protecting our users' personal data is of utmost importance to us.
"We are fully cooperating with the Data Protection Commission, and will continue to abide by GDPR and all applicable laws," they added.
