Google Reaches $1.4 Billion Settlement with Texas Over Privacy Violations
AUSTIN — In a landmark agreement, Google has reached a nearly $1.4 billion settlement with Texas, as announced by Attorney General Ken Paxton. This represents the highest amount ever recovered from the tech giant by any state attorney general under privacy law enforcement. The settlement follows a series of legal challenges, including Texas’s recent $1.4 billion settlement with Meta last July.
According to Paxton, the settlement addresses crucial issues regarding Google’s practices related to its Incognito mode, location tracking, and biometric data collection. He emphasized that Big Tech companies are not above the law, stating, “For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won.”
Despite the substantial settlement, Google has not admitted to any wrongdoing or liability, nor will it be required to implement new changes to its products. José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, remarked that the settlement resolves old claims related to product policies that have since been updated.
The legal battles began in earnest in 2022, when Paxton filed multiple lawsuits against Google. One lawsuit alleged that Google misled users regarding the use of their location data, while another accused the company of unlawfully collecting biometric data, in violation of Texas law requiring informed consent.
Following an appeals court’s dismissal of some claims, both parties entered settlement discussions, ultimately leading to Friday’s decision, which Paxton branded a victory for consumer privacy. He asserted his commitment to fighting against Big Tech’s exploitation of consumer trust, vowing to protect the rights and freedoms of Texans.
The settlement signals a continued push for accountability within the tech industry and may serve as a precedent for future cases involving consumer privacy rights.
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