Google Fined $425M in Landmark Privacy Violation Case
▼ Summary
– A federal jury in California has ordered Google to pay $425 million for violating user privacy by collecting data even after users disabled tracking.
– The class action lawsuit alleged Google unlawfully accessed app activity data from July 2016 to September 2024, even when the “Web & App Activity” setting was turned off.
– The Web & App Activity setting is intended to control how Google collects information related to searches, location, and activity on third-party sites and apps.
– The jury found Google liable for invasion of privacy and intrusion upon seclusion, affecting around 98 million users and 174 million devices.
– Google plans to appeal the verdict, arguing the decision misunderstands how its products work and that users knew and consented to the data practices.
A federal jury in California has ordered Google to pay $425 million in a landmark privacy case, finding the tech giant continued collecting user data even after individuals disabled tracking features. The ruling marks one of the largest penalties ever imposed for digital privacy violations and underscores growing legal scrutiny over how major platforms handle personal information.
The case originated from a class action lawsuit filed in mid-2020, which accused Google of unlawfully gathering app activity data from millions of mobile phone users between July 2016 and September 2024. Despite users turning off the “Web & App Activity” setting, a control designed to limit data collection from searches, locations, and third-party apps, Google allegedly continued harvesting information across partnered platforms.
This setting is intended to let users manage how their activity is used for personalized services, including targeted advertising. Google maintains that the data helps improve user experience, but the court found the company overstepped legal boundaries.
Jurors held Google responsible for two central claims: invasion of privacy and intrusion upon seclusion. The class action represents approximately 98 million users and 174 million devices, with plaintiffs initially seeking more than $31 billion in damages before the jury settled on the multimillion-dollar fine.
In response, Google announced it will appeal the decision. A company spokesperson stated that the ruling “misunderstands how our products work,” emphasizing that user controls are designed to be respected. Google also argued that data is treated pseudonymously when tracking is disabled and insisted that users had consented to these practices.
The outcome signals a significant moment in the ongoing debate over digital consent, corporate accountability, and the real-world meaning of “opting out” in an increasingly data-driven ecosystem.
(Source: The Verge)