A lot of apps and online services have options designed to enhance your privacy by letting you turn off certain features, like location access, access to your photos, contacts, calendar events, and more. Now, Google has found itself on the hook for a fine of $425 million after a verdict in an ongoing privacy trial that was filed back in 2020.
Google privacy trial verdict results in $425 million fine
For a bit of backstory, Google was hit with a class action lawsuit dating back to 2020. This lawsuit covered about 98 million Google users that spanned 174 million devices. The lawsuit alleged that Google breached the privacy of its users by collecting data on them. This is despite the fact that users disabled the tracking feature on their accounts.
The plaintiffs are also alleging that Google’s collection practices extend to other apps. This includes ride-hailing apps, e-commerce apps, and social media platforms. However, Google tried to defend itself. The company says that even when users turn off the Web & App Activity feature on their account, businesses that rely on Google Analytics can still collect data. However, the data is anonymized and does not identify individual users.
We’re not sure if that’s a very good argument. At the end of the day, data is still being collected, even if users explicitly say not to. That being said, the verdict from the Google privacy trial now asks the company to pay a fine to the tune of $425 million. That’s a lot of money, but it is considerably less than the $31 billion the plaintiffs had initially requested.
In a statement made to the BBC, Google says it plans to appeal it. “This decision misunderstands how our products work, and we will appeal it. Our privacy tools give people control over their data, and when they turn off personalisation, we honour that choice.”
Other run-ins with the law
Given Google’s size and its reach, it’s not surprising that the company has had multiple run-ins with the law and various government regulatory bodies. All things considered, this fine is actually a relatively small price to pay.
What might have gotten Google into actual trouble was a recent recommendation that it sell off its Chrome browser. The company narrowly avoided it, but the ruling also made it so that Google can’t keep its exclusivity deals. However, despite that, Google’s rivals do not believe it is enough.
DuckDuckGo’s CEO, Gabriel Weinberg was quoted as saying, “We do not believe the remedies ordered by the court will force the changes necessary to adequately address Google’s illegal behavior.”
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