Google to Pay Texas $1.4 Billion for Data Privacy Violations

The US state of Texas has scored a monumental $1.4 billion settlement with Google, marking the largest recovery ever secured by a state attorney general in a data privacy case against the tech giant.

The settlement, reached after years of contentious litigation, addresses Google’s alleged unlawful collection of Texans' personal data.

According to Attorney General Ken Paxton, the settlement represents a significant step in the ongoing battle to protect user privacy against Big Tech's invasive practices.

Geolocation, incognito searches, biometrics

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2022, stemmed from allegations that Google violated state privacy laws by collecting private user data, such as geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric information, without proper consent.

According to a press release by Paxton’s office, Google has been “secretly” collecting sensitive information about its users for years, "tracking their movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry.”

“In Texas, we will not stand by while Big Tech exploits our personal data for profit,” Paxton said. “This settlement sends a strong message: companies will be held accountable for abusing our trust.”

The $1.375 billion figure eclipses previous settlements, including a multistate coalition’s $391 million settlement involving 40 states.

No other US state has obtained a settlement this big against Google for similar privacy violations.

Paxton regards this win as a new step in bolstering digital privacy:

I will continue to lead the charge to protect Texans from companies that misuse their personal information. This $1.375 billion settlement is a clear message to other companies: we will not tolerate the exploitation of our citizens' data.

Texas is setting a precedent for state-level action against Big Tech, having also reached a $1.4 billion settlement with Facebook's parent company, Meta, over alleged misuse of facial recognition data.

Google denies any wrongdoing

Google denies liability, saying it made relevant policy changes long ago and won’t alter how its products work as part of the deal.

“This settles a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed,” Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said. “We are pleased to put them behind us, and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services.”

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