Google has agreed to pay a substantial settlement of $155 million to resolve claims made by California and private plaintiffs. These claims alleged that the search engine giant misled consumers about how it tracks their locations and used their personal data without proper consent. The settlements have brought forth accusations that Google deceived users into believing they had control over the collection and usage of their personal data.
One of the key allegations against Google was that it was able to “profile” individuals and target them with advertisements, even if they had turned off the “Location History” setting. This raised concerns about the company’s ability to track users’ movements for its own commercial gain, despite explicitly stating otherwise. The California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, expressed his dissatisfaction with this deceptive practice, calling it “unacceptable.”
As part of the settlement, Google is required to pay $93 million to the state of California. Additionally, the company must provide more transparency regarding how it tracks users’ whereabouts and utilizes the data it collects. The aim of this settlement is to ensure that users have clearer information about Google’s data practices and can make more informed decisions regarding their privacy.
Google’s settlement with private plaintiffs amounts to $62 million. After deducting legal fees, the remaining funds will be distributed to court-approved nonprofit organizations that focus on internet privacy concerns. The decision to distribute the funds to these organizations is attributed to the impracticality of distributing the money to all affected individuals, considering the vast number of mobile device users in the United States.
While the settlement seeks to provide resolution to the affected individuals, some critics argue that the allocation of funds to nonprofit groups, known as “cy pres,” offers limited benefit to class members. However, given the challenges involved in directly distributing the money to millions of individuals, this approach was deemed more feasible.
Google has denied any liability in this case, as it has done in similar allegations made by various states. In 2022, the company agreed to pay $391.5 million to resolve similar claims made by 40 US states. Additionally, Google has reached settlements totaling $124.9 million with Arizona and Washington. The tech giant asserts that the allegations in the recent settlement are related to outdated product policies that have since undergone significant changes.
As Google settles for $155 million, it must confront the consequences of its alleged misleading data practices. The scrutiny surrounding the control of personal data is increasing, and tech companies must operate with transparency and ensure users have full knowledge of how their information is collected and used. The settlement provides an opportunity for Google to address these concerns and regain trust as it continues to shape the future of technology and data privacy.
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