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Google Agrees to $1.375 Billion Settlement with Texas Over Data Privacy Violations

The record-breaking settlement resolves lawsuits alleging Google unlawfully tracked user data, including location, biometric information, and Incognito searches.

The exterior of the new headquarters of Google is seen at 550 Washington Street in Hudson Square on January 09, 2024 in New York City.
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FILE – A sign is displayed on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Overview

  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the $1.375 billion settlement, marking the largest single-state privacy recovery against Google.
  • The lawsuits, filed in 2022, accused Google of unlawfully collecting Texans' location data, biometric information, and misleading users about Incognito mode's privacy protections.
  • The agreement does not require Google to admit wrongdoing or implement changes to its products, according to the company’s spokesperson.
  • This settlement surpasses previous state and multistate recoveries, including a $391 million multistate deal and California’s $93 million settlement with Google.
  • Paxton emphasized the settlement as a significant victory for Texans’ privacy, adding that it reinforces accountability for Big Tech companies.