MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, USA – MARCH 23: A view of Google headquarters on March 23, 2024 in Mountain View, California, USA. (Photo credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
(KRON) — On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila approved a final multi-million dollar settlement with Google.
The class action lawsuit was filed amid an investigation by The Associated Press that revealed the Silicon Valley giant tracked users’ information without their consent, even if Google used privacy settings that prevented it from doing so. The settlement states that
According to the settlement, Google published a support page on how to manage and delete a user’s location history, stating, “If you turn off Location History for your Google Account, Location History will be turned off for all devices associated with that Google Account.” “It will be.”
Despite promising to prohibit user location tracking, the settlement states that “Google’s representations were false.” As revealed by AP, turning off “Location History” only stops Google from creating locations in your timeline that users can view. However, Google still continued to track the owners of the phones and kept records of their locations, the settlement said.
The proposed settlement states that even if “Location History” is turned off, each time you use a Google-controlled feature on your phone, such as the Google Maps app, the Weather app, or a search on your phone’s mobile browser. The user’s location information will be saved.
For example, Google saves a snapshot of your location just by opening the Maps app. Android smartphones automatically update the daily weather forecast to roughly determine your location. Additionally, for some non-location-related searches, such as “chocolate chip cookies” or “science kits for kids,” your exact latitude and longitude (accurate to the nearest square foot) will be determined and stored in your Google Account. .
Ryan Nakashima, Associated Press Writer
Contrary to the plain language and simple process outlined on the Google support page referenced above, in order to actually prevent location tracking, an individual must go through a deeply buried and conspicuous process titled “Web and App Activity.” You need to go to ‘Settings’. state.
Investigation shows Google continues to access and store the location information of people who have turned off Location History, which plaintiffs claim violates the California Invasion of Privacy Act and the California Constitution’s privacy rights. are doing.
According to the complaint filed in March, the agreement requires Google to commit $62 million to an “unrevised cash fund” that will be used by up to 21 nonprofit organizations to support and defend the privacy rights of class participants. They say they are required to pay.
The fund will also cover plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees of $18.6 million, unreimbursed costs of $151,756.23, and awards of $5,000 to three settling class members.
