Google Settles Unauthorized Data Collection Lawsuit for $135 Million
Google has agreed to pay $135 million in a class action lawsuit alleging unauthorized data collection from Android users. The settlement has been submitted for court approval.
Tech Giant Reaches Settlement in Major User Data Lawsuit
Tech giant Google has reached a $135 million preliminary settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging it collected Android users' personal data without permission. The settlement was submitted to the San Jose federal court and is subject to a judge's approval.
Plaintiffs' Claims and Legal Basis
According to the plaintiffs, Google has been collecting cellular data from phones purchased from carriers since November 12, 2017, even when apps were closed or location features were disabled. It is alleged that this data was used for marketing and product development. Glen Summers, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys, stated that this payment could be one of the largest, if not the largest, settlements in such cases.
This situation, referred to as 'conversion' in US law, means one party usurping another's property rights. The plaintiffs argued that their personal data was used without permission within this scope.
Google's Commitments and Other Lawsuits
While not admitting any wrongdoing, Google made certain commitments under the settlement. Going forward, user consent will be obtained during a new phone setup process, a toggle button will be added to easily disable data transfer, and terms of service will be updated accordingly. Each user involved in the lawsuit may be eligible to receive up to $100 from Google.
This is the second major settlement Google has signed this week. The company also reached a $68 million settlement on January 26 regarding allegations that Google Assistant listened to users due to misheard wake words. Google did not admit any wrongdoing in that case either.
As debates on artificial intelligence and data privacy continue, such lawsuits are scrutinizing corporate responsibility. On similar topics, Meta executives having young people use an AI chatbot and child safety debates are also on the public agenda. Furthermore, according to an ADL report, Grok can produce antisemitic content and Anthropic's CEO highlighted the existential risks of AI. The impact of technology on the workforce is bringing universal basic income discussions in the UK.
The hearing for the Google case will begin on August 5th.
