Google agrees to pay $1.4 billion to Texas in data privacy dispute



05/12/2025 2:59 AM


According to The New York Times, Google has consented to pay $1.375 billion to the state of Texas to resolve two lawsuits over accusations of breaching consumer protection laws. State officials charged the company with breaching data privacy, such as user location and facial recognition, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.



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“In Texas, large technology firms are subject to the law. For years, Google covertly monitored individuals' movements, personal searches, and even their voice recordings and facial features via its products and services,” he explained further.

Paxton initiated legal actions against Google in 2022. He asserted that the company collected the facial features and voice recordings of Texas residents without appropriate consent. Additionally, he said that it monitored users' locations even when they believed the feature was turned off, and deceived them regarding incognito mode, which is designed for private browsing.

Google acknowledged no fault but consented to resolve allegations concerning incognito mode, location history, and biometric data. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda stated that the disputed claims were outdated product assertions that the company had already revised. “We're pleased to move past them and will keep enhancing strong privacy measures in our services,” he stated.

source: nytimes.com

 


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