Google Ordered To Pay Out Nearly $400 Million For Scary Privacy Violation
Google has been ordered by the Oregon Department of Justice to repay $391.5 million back to individuals residing in 40 different states for misleading them in regard to its geolocation tracking practices.
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In what could be the largest consumer privacy settlement by states in U.S. history, Google will pay $391.5 million to resolve accusations of misleading people into turning off their geolocation tracking. The settlement, which is the largest of its kind in U.S. history, was announced by Oregon’s Department of Justice on Monday.
It’s no secret that Google has been less than forthcoming when it comes to user privacy. For years, the tech giant has prioritized profit over people’s privacy, and it has been called out time and time again for its shady practices.
Now, Google is facing even more scrutiny from the law. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that it has “been crafty and deceptive” in the way it collects and uses user data.
The lawsuit centers around Google’s location tracking features. Although users are supposed to be able to turn off these features, Rosenblum says that the company has continued to secretly record people’s movements and use that information for advertisers.
This is a huge violation of user trust, and it’s not the first time that Google has been caught red-handed. In the past, the company has been fined for illegal data collection, and it has been accused of mishandling user data.
This latest lawsuit is just another example of Google’s disregard for user privacy. It’s time for the company to be held accountable for its actions, and we hope that this lawsuit will help to make that happen.
As governments around the world crack down on Big Tech, Google has been hit with a series of lawsuits and fines. However, the company is vowing to change its ways and improve its privacy policies.
Google communicated in their recent settlement that the alleged policy violations come from outdated policy decisions, which they changed years ago. As governments around the world push for legislative reforms to hold tech giants accountable, Google is taking cautious steps to settle any disputes before they escalate.
This isn’t the first time Google has been in hot water over its data collection practices. In 2018, the company was fined $170 million by the FTC for collecting the data of children without their parent’s consent. And earlier this year, Google was hit with a $113 million fine in India over its app store payment practices.
The US Department of Justice plans to file a lawsuit later this year regarding Google’s search dominance, and both Washington state and Washington, DC, sued Google in September over location tracking. Google primarily makes its money from digital ad sales. Connecting advertisers to customers require information about search interests, buying behavior, and location. Google posted a 3% fall in ad revenue between the second and third quarters of this year.
In an Associated Press investigation from 2018, it was uncovered that Google tracks user data even if people turn off location history. The AP’s investigation showed that Google is collecting more location data than people realize and that the company is using it in ways that may violate people’s privacy. As people continue to use Google’s products and services, it’s important to be aware of the company’s data-collection practices and to make sure that your privacy is respected.
According to CNET Google has agreed to make several changes to how it manages users’ location data after an investigation by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC found that Google misrepresented its location services, leading to this settlement and future changes. The settlement requires Google to not hide information in their privacy settings, to have more detailed information about the types of data being collected and shared (such as location history), and show people what’s happening when they turn on or off location services.
The commission alleges that the company violated the FTC Act by failing to live up to its privacy promises. As part of the settlement, Google will have to change the way it asks users for permission to access their location information. The company will also have to get explicit consent from users before collecting, using, or sharing their precise geolocation information.
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