Google Settles Texas Privacy Violations for $1.375 Billion

Google will pay a $1.375 billion settlement to Texas over privacy violations, according to a press release from the Texas Attorney General's office. The settlement addresses claims brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2022, alleging that Google unlawfully tracked and collected users' private data, including geolocation, incognito search information, and biometric data. This hefty settlement marks a significant milestone, as no single state had previously secured a payment from Google exceeding $93 million for similar data privacy infractions. The lawsuit accused Google of violating user privacy through various mechanisms, such as continuing to track users even when they were using the incognito mode in Chrome or had disabled location tracking. Google spokesperson José Castañeda responded to the settlement, stating, "This agreement resolves a range of older claims, many of which have already been addressed in other jurisdictions, concerning product policies we have long since updated. We are pleased to move forward and will continue to prioritize robust privacy controls in our services." The settlement comes on the heels of another major legal challenge Google faced in 2022, when the company agreed to pay $391.5 million to 40 states over allegations of unauthorized location tracking. This prior settlement underscored the ongoing scrutiny Google faces regarding its data collection practices. Texas has also been proactive in addressing privacy concerns with other tech giants. Last year, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with the state over its use of facial recognition technology and photo tags, highlighting the increasingly serious consequences for companies that infringe on user privacy. These settlements not only reflect the growing importance of data privacy but also signal a shift in how states are holding tech companies accountable for their actions. As regulatory frameworks around data privacy continue to evolve, tech companies like Google and Meta must adapt to meet stricter standards and face significant financial penalties if they fail to do so.