A US federal jury has ordered Google to pay $425 million in damages for privacy violations, finding that the tech giant collected data from users even after they disabled tracking features. This verdict highlights significant concerns over digital privacy and corporate accountability.
The lawsuit was initiated in July 2020 by a group of Google users who alleged that the company continued to collect and utilize mobile app activity data despite assurances that disabling the Web & App Activity setting would halt such practices. The class action encompasses approximately 98 million users and 174 million devices, underscoring the widespread impact of the issue.
Plaintiffs argued during the trial that Google’s data collection extended to numerous smartphone apps, including those from major companies like Uber, Lyft, Amazon, Alibaba, Instagram, and Facebook. They contended that Google accessed user devices to gather, store, and exploit data in breach of explicit privacy commitments made to consumers.
Google has firmly denied any wrongdoing, with a spokesperson stating that the jury’s decision misinterprets how their products function. The company emphasized that its privacy tools are designed to give users control and that it honors choices when personalization is turned off. Google plans to appeal the verdict, maintaining that the data collected is non-personal, pseudonymous, and securely stored.
The jury found Google liable for two out of three claims of privacy violations but did not determine that the company acted with malice. This resulted in a substantial financial penalty, though it is notably less than the $31 billion in damages originally sought by the plaintiffs.
This case is part of a series of privacy-related legal challenges faced by Google. Earlier this year, the company settled a lawsuit with Texas for $1.375 billion over allegations of collecting biometric data without proper consent. These recurring issues suggest systemic problems in how tech giants manage user information.
Privacy advocates have praised the verdict as a critical step toward enforcing stricter data protection standards. They argue that such legal outcomes are essential for ensuring that user preferences are respected and that corporations cannot circumvent privacy safeguards.
Looking forward, Google’s appeal process will shape the final resolution of this case. Regardless of the outcome, this verdict is expected to influence future regulatory frameworks and encourage more transparent data handling practices across the technology sector.