Google Agrees to $93 Million Settlement With California Over Its Location-Privacy Practices

Google has come to an agreement with the state of California, settling a lawsuit regarding its location-privacy practices. According to the Associated Press, this settlement amounts to a significant $93 million, marking another step in resolving the ongoing investigation into the company's tracking of user locations.

This development follows a prior settlement in November 2022, when Google agreed to pay $391.5 million to 40 states, aiming to address concerns about the way it monitored user locations.

Google 'Location History' Feature

The investigation was initially prompted by a 2018 Associated Press report, which uncovered Google's continued tracking of location data even when users explicitly opted out through the "location history" feature.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed his stance, saying, "Our investigation revealed that Google was telling its users one thing-that it would no longer track their location once they opted out-but doing the opposite and continuing to track its users' movements for its own commercial gain. That's unacceptable, and we're holding Google accountable with today's settlement."

It is important to note that Google did not concede to any wrongdoing in conjunction with this settlement. Nevertheless, the company did commit to a series of actions.

These include heightened transparency concerning location tracking, notifying users about the potential utilization of their location data for tailored advertising, and furnishing extra details to users while adjusting settings related to location.

Google's response to the settlement underscored the substantial strides it has taken in refining its policies in recent times. The company affirmed that this resolution tackles concerns originating from antiquated product policies, which underwent modification years ago.

Google Embroiled in a 10-Week Trial

In related news, Google was also embroiled in a 10-week trial in Washington, DC, where it faces allegations of leveraging its influence to maintain a dominant position in internet search.

The trial centers on anti-competitive practices and tests the extent of US regulators' authority over tech giants like Google, particularly in instances wherein it serves as the default search engine on various platforms, including Apple devices.

Central to the government's argument is Google's yearly payments to major tech companies like Apple, Samsung, and Mozilla to ensure Google remains the default search engine on their devices, thereby preserving its market dominance. Prosecutors assert that this information is pivotal in understanding the dynamics of the industry.

This trial underscored that Google became Apple's default search engine in 2002 without engaging in any financial transactions. However, by 2005, financial incentives became part of the equation, and there were even threats to withdraw if other companies were granted similar access.

The government contends that Google's actions constitute encouragement of monopolistic behavior, allegedly instructing Apple to limit the scope of its search product development and urging Samsung to refrain from partnering with businesses that employ alternative search methods.

While Google maintains that consumers can easily switch to other search engines, the heart of the matter lies in the payments made to secure its position as the default search engine on popular devices.

Google argues that it faces fierce competition not just from major players like Microsoft's Bing but also from niche websites and applications tailored to specific customer needs.

John Schmidtlein, Google's attorney, asserted that the company competes on merit to secure pre-installation and default status. He emphasized that data demonstrates users still overwhelmingly prefer Google, highlighting its superior search capabilities.