Texas has secured a landmark settlement of $1.38 billion from Google in response to allegations that the tech giant violated the privacy of its users. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the deal on Friday, which aims to resolve claims related to the company’s data collection practices. This settlement brings an end to two lawsuits filed against Google, which accused the company of infringing on Texas consumer protection laws through its data handling practices.
The settlement covers three key areas where Google was accused of misusing users’ personal data. These include the company’s handling of Incognito mode, Location History tracking, and biometric data, specifically related to voiceprints and facial geometry. However, Google has not admitted to any wrongdoing in the case.
Texas Big Tech
In a statement, Attorney General Paxton emphasized that the settlement reaffirms the notion that “Big Tech is not above the law,” noting that Google had been accused of secretly collecting sensitive data from users without their consent. “For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services,” Paxton said. “I fought back and won.”
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Though the agreement settles the Texas-based claims, Paxton did not provide details on how the settlement funds would be allocated, leaving the public curious about the financial distribution.
Google has defended its actions, asserting that the settlement resolves claims related to old policies and practices that have since been revised. José Castañeda, a Google spokesperson, issued a statement affirming that the settlement covers historical claims, including those around Incognito, Location History, and biometrics. “We are pleased to put them behind us, and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services,” he said.
Despite the settlement, the company stressed that no product changes would be required. This indicates that, although Google will pay the settlement amount, the company will not need to adjust its products or policies in response to the claims made in the lawsuit.
The legal battle between Texas and Google had been ongoing since 2022, when Paxton filed two separate lawsuits against the tech giant. The lawsuits accused Google of unlawfully collecting sensitive biometric data, including facial geometry and voiceprints, from Texas residents without their informed consent. Furthermore, Paxton alleged that the company misled users about its Incognito mode, which is supposed to provide a private browsing experience. It was claimed that Google continued to track users’ activities even when they believed they had disabled such features.
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This settlement follows a similar case involving Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. In 2024, Meta agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Paxton to resolve allegations that the company had unlawfully collected and used facial recognition data without consent.
While the Google settlement concludes one chapter in the ongoing efforts to hold tech companies accountable for privacy violations, questions remain about the broader impact of such cases on consumer data protection laws. The large financial settlements signal the growing importance of safeguarding personal information in the digital age, but experts argue that more substantial regulatory changes may be necessary to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
This settlement reflects the broader trend of increasing scrutiny and legal actions against major tech companies, as concerns about data privacy and security continue to grow. The $1.375 billion figure underscores the severity of the allegations, as well as the potential financial consequences of violating user privacy laws. While Google has resolved these claims, the issue of user privacy remains a significant concern for both consumers and lawmakers alike.
The settlement is finalized, attention will likely shift to other ongoing cases and whether additional tech giants will face similar legal challenges.
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