Google Doesn’t Even Have To Pay 400 Million For Location Scams

For years, Google continued to collect the whereabouts of those affected, even after users had disabled the storage of their cell phone’s whereabouts (“location history”). For advertising purposes, on Android phones and iPhones with Google Maps. In 2018, this was revealed by Associated Press (AP) journalist Ryan Nakashima. Some US states sued Google. A group of 40 states opted for out-of-court negotiations. Their result is a settlement payment of US$391.5 million (about 378 million euros).

guided them through AP report Investigation and negotiations initiated by Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson (Republican) and Oregon Secretary of State Ellen Rosenblum (Democrat). He Describe the comparison as “historic”., It is “the largest consumer privacy settlement led by US attorneys general in history.” This would be true, especially since the United States does not yet have comprehensive data protection legislation. There are only special laws for minors’ data and health data.

$400 million, divided among 40 states, is a minor consolation. 2020 Arizona sues (Arizona v. Google, Arizona Super. Ct., Az. CV2020-006219) and settled an $85 million privacy lawsuit against Google last month. It’s about $12 per person. Large comparisons with 40 states are now cheap enough to Google.

$1.40 per person

Oregon says it will get $14.8 million, Nebraska $11.9 million. This equates to $3.50 or $5.95 per resident. However, these amounts are only “high” because Nebraska and Oregon are compensated for the costs of the investigation and negotiations. Maryland, for example, receives only $1.40 per person.

In settlement, more information about whether to display additional information when turning Google Location History on or off, hiding important information and minimizing it to users, and the types of location data it typically collects committed to publishing. The crux of the problem is that simply turning off Location History was not enough. Users should also disable “Web & App Activity”. Because this data also allows Google to compile valuable traffic profiles.

The capital districts of Indiana, Texas, Washington, and the District of Columbia are not included in the comparison group. All four had filed a lawsuit against Google earlier this year.

(DS)