Google will pay Texas $1.4 billion to settle privacy lawsuits

Google Settles $1.375 Billion Lawsuit with Texas Over Privacy Violations

Google has reached a settlement with the state of Texas, agreeing to pay $1.375 billion to resolve two lawsuits accusing the tech giant of tracking users’ personal location, incognito searches, and voice and facial data without their consent. The legal action was initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2022, marking a significant victory for state privacy laws.

Paxton stated, “In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law. For years, Google has been secretly monitoring people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial features through their products and services. I stood up against this invasion of privacy and emerged victorious.” This settlement represents the highest recovery nationwide against Google for violations of state privacy regulations.

A spokesperson for Google clarified that the company is resolving the lawsuits without admitting any wrongdoing or liability, and without making changes to its products. José Castañeda emphasized, “This settlement addresses various historical claims, many of which have already been addressed elsewhere, regarding product policies that have since been updated. We are pleased to put these matters behind us and remain committed to enhancing privacy controls within our services.”

Despite previous legal victories for Google, such as a court ruling that dismissed a lawsuit due to insufficient ties to Texas, the company has faced ongoing scrutiny over its data practices. Google has defended its actions, asserting that features like facial recognition in Google Photos were intended for user convenience rather than advertising purposes.

The settlement with Texas follows significant antitrust rulings against Google, which found the company guilty of illegal practices to maintain monopolies in web search and advertising technology. Proposed remedies include the potential divestment of the Chrome browser. Google has stated its intention to appeal these rulings.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced his plans to challenge U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the upcoming midterm elections. Paxton’s stance against Big Tech and his successful legal actions have bolstered his political profile and positioned him as a prominent figure in the fight for consumer privacy rights.