A San Francisco jury has ordered Google to pay $425 million after finding that the company collected data from users' mobile devices even when they had switched off the Web & App Activity tracking feature in their Google accounts. This verdict comes after an eight-year legal battle over privacy assurances.
The class action lawsuit, filed in July 2020 and certified by U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg, covers about 98 million Google users and 174 million devices. Plaintiffs originally sought more than $31 billion in damages, but the jury found Google liable on two of three privacy violation claims and determined there was no malice, which means punitive damages were off the table.
Here's what you need to know:
- Scope: Data collection continued through Google analytics partnerships with apps like Uber, Venmo, and Instagram.
- Data Handling: Google defended its practices, saying the data was nonpersonal, pseudonymous, encrypted, and not tied to individual accounts.
- Company Response: Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said, "This decision misunderstands how our products work. Our privacy tools give people control over their data, and when they turn off personalization, we honor that choice."
- Legal Context: Google plans to appeal. Earlier in 2024, the company settled a separate case by agreeing to destroy billions of records from private browsing, and it paid $1.4 billion to Texas over state privacy law claims.
David Boies, lead counsel for the users, said the plaintiffs were "very pleased with the verdict" and viewed it as a win for user rights and digital privacy. As the appeal process begins, this case highlights tensions between user control and data-driven innovation in the tech industry.
Whether you're a globe-trotting digital nomad, a startup founder tracking the next regulatory shake-up, or a privacy activist, this landmark decision sends a clear message: users and regulators are watching how tech giants handle personal data.
Reference(s):
Google must pay $425 million in class action over privacy, jury says
cgtn.com
