Ever clicked off your Google tracking and thought, phew, I’m safe? According to a San Fran jury, not so fast! They’ve hit Google with a $425 million payout for collecting data from millions of users who’d turned off the 'Web & App Activity' setting 🤯.
The case kicked off back in July 2020 when plaintiffs accused Google of snooping on mobile devices through partnerships with apps like Uber, Venmo, and Instagram—even after users toggled privacy off. After an eight-year spree of data grabs, the jury found Google liable on two of three claims, though they ruled no malice meant no extra punitive damages.
Originally, users sought over $31 billion in damages, so this verdict is a fraction of that ask. Google says it plans to appeal, with spokesperson Jose Castaneda arguing, 'This decision misunderstands how our products work. Our privacy tools give people control over their data.'
Lead attorney David Boies, meanwhile, is celebrating the win: 'We’re obviously very pleased with the verdict,' he said.
Federal Judge Richard Seeborg certified the lawsuit as a class action covering about 98 million users and 174 million devices. This isn’t Google’s first brush with privacy suits—earlier this year they paid nearly $1.4 billion to Texas over alleged state law breaches, and in April 2024 agreed to delete billions of Incognito-mode records to settle another case.
Key takeaways:
- $425M verdict for privacy violations
- Class covers ~98M users & 174M devices
- Previous suits: $1.4B Texas, Incognito data deletion
Why it matters: In our hyper-connected world, turning off data tracking should mean exactly that. This landmark verdict sends a clear message: if tech giants want our data, they’ve got to play by the rules. For young pros in South and Southeast Asia navigating digital life, it’s a reminder to stay informed about your privacy settings—your data, your rules! 🔒📱
Reference(s):
Google must pay $425 million in class action over privacy, jury says
cgtn.com
