Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to the state of Texas to settle two lawsuits alleging violations of state data privacy laws. This marks the largest privacy-related settlement ever secured by a single U.S. state.
Allegations Against Google
The lawsuits, filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2022, accused Google of unlawfully collecting and using users' personal data without proper consent. Specifically, the state alleged that Google:
- Tracked users' geolocation data even when location services were disabled.
- Monitored users' activities in Incognito mode.
- Harvested biometric data, including voiceprints and facial geometry, through services like Google Photos, Google Assistant, and Nest Hub Max.
Paxton emphasized that these practices violated Texans' privacy rights and that the state would not tolerate such infractions.
Settlement Details
While Google did not admit to any wrongdoing, the company stated that the claims were outdated and related to product policies that have since been updated. The settlement does not require Google to implement new product changes.
This is the third major settlement involving Google in Texas over the past two years. In 2023, the company agreed to a $700 million settlement resolving Android app store competition claims.
Broader Context
The settlement comes amid increased scrutiny of tech companies' data practices. In 2024, Meta (formerly Facebook) agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over allegations of unauthorized use of biometric data.
Additionally, Google is facing other legal challenges, including a recent federal court ruling that the company holds an illegal monopoly in advertising technology—a decision Google intends to appeal.
These developments reflect mounting regulatory pressure on major tech firms regarding privacy and antitrust concerns.