The largest multistate privacy settlement in American history, according to state attorneys general, was reached between Google and 40 states in connection with an inquiry into how the business monitored users’ whereabouts. The states’ inquiry discovered that Google continued to follow people’s location data even after they opted out of such tracking, which authorities said was inspired by a 2018 Associated Press piece.
In an era of growing dependence on technology, this $391.5 million settlement represents a historic victory for consumers. According to Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, “There are various reasons why a consumer may choose to opt out of monitoring. Location data is among the most sensitive and important personal information Google gathers.
Even if you have selected a privacy option that states it will stop Google from using your location data, many Google services on Android and iPhone devices still save information, according to the AP. At the request of the AP, Princeton computer scientists corroborated these findings.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul of Illinois, who will receive more than $19.5 million in the settlement, said “consumers were misled by Google as to when their location was being recorded and how that information was used.” “Today’s statement underlines the need for improved privacy regulations that more effectively safeguard consumers in light of the growth of smart gadgets that collect increasing data on their users.”
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