2LT International News

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California: Google will pay US$1.4 billion to settle allegations that it unlawfully collected user data in Texas without consent, the state’s attorney general announced late last week.

The settlement resolves claims filed in 2022, accusing the tech giant of secretly tracking users’ locations, private searches, and biometric data through its products and services, including Google Photos and Google Assistant. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated that the agreement sends a strong warning to tech companies about the exploitation of user data.

“In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law,” Paxton said in a statement. “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.”

The settlement, the largest ever secured by a state over data privacy violations involving Google, follows other major agreements Texas has reached with the company. In December 2023, Google agreed to pay $700 million and make policy changes to resolve claims that it stifled competition in its Android app store.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the latest agreement addresses “old claims,” some of which involve policies the company has already adjusted. “We are pleased to put them behind us, and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services,” he said, noting that the settlement does not require any new product changes.

Paxton alleged that Google collected millions of biometric identifiers, including voiceprints and facial geometry data, without informing users or obtaining proper consent. The state argued this violated privacy protections under Texas law.

Texas is not the only state taking action against major tech firms over data privacy concerns. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has also agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas to resolve claims that it misused users’ biometric data without their permission.