Texas just forced Google to cough up a staggering $1.4 billion for secretly tracking citizens’ movements, searches, and even stealing biometric data without their consent.
Key Takeaways
- Google will pay Texas $1.4 billion to settle lawsuits over unauthorized tracking of user locations, searches in incognito mode, and collection of biometric data.
- This represents the largest settlement amount any state has ever secured from Google for privacy violations.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton framed the victory as a warning to tech companies that profit from violating citizens’ rights.
- Google claims the settlement addresses “old claims” and won’t require any changes to their current products.
- This follows Texas’ pattern of aggressive tech enforcement, including a recent $1.4 billion settlement with Meta over facial recognition violations.
Texas Scores Record-Breaking Settlement Against Big Tech
In a monumental victory for digital privacy rights, Texas has secured a $1.4 billion settlement from Google over allegations the tech giant unlawfully collected and profited from users’ personal data. Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the agreement Monday, marking it as the largest amount any state has ever obtained from Google for similar privacy violations. The settlement resolves claims that Google tracked Texans’ movements, captured their search histories even in “private” browsing mode, and collected biometric information without proper consent or disclosure to users.
The case stems from a 2022 lawsuit that focused on several concerning practices, including Google’s tracking of geolocation data without user permission and monitoring search activity even when users believed they were browsing privately in incognito mode. Perhaps most troubling were allegations that Google collected biometric identifiers such as voiceprints and facial geometry through services like Google Photos and Google Assistant – practices that directly violated Texas privacy laws requiring explicit consent before capturing such sensitive personal data.
A Warning to Big Tech from Conservative Texas
Attorney General Paxton didn’t mince words about the settlement’s significance, framing it as both a victory for Texans and a stern message to technology companies that routinely harvest user data without proper disclosure or consent. “This historic $1.4 billion settlement is a significant win for Texans’ privacy rights and sends a clear warning to any company that seeks to profit by violating the privacy rights of our citizens,” Paxton declared. The settlement represents Texas’ commitment to defending its citizens against corporate overreach, particularly from Silicon Valley giants who have long faced criticism from conservatives for their data practices.
Texas has established itself as arguably the most aggressive state in challenging Big Tech’s data collection practices. This Google settlement follows a similar $1.4 billion agreement reached with Meta last year over unauthorized use of facial recognition software. The state also secured a $700 million settlement from Google in December 2023 regarding Android app store competition issues. These consecutive victories demonstrate the state’s determination to hold tech companies accountable under conservative leadership that prioritizes individual rights and privacy protections.
Google Downplays Settlement Impact
For its part, Google has attempted to minimize the significance of the $1.4 billion payout, characterizing the settlement as resolving “old claims” that don’t require any additional changes to its current products. “We are pleased to resolve this matter, which we believe allows us to move forward and continue focusing on products and services that help Texans and people around the world,” a Google spokesperson stated. This response follows a familiar pattern from tech companies who typically resist acknowledging wrongdoing even when agreeing to massive financial penalties.
The settlement specifically addressed Google’s practices around location tracking, with Texas alleging the company continued to collect location data even after users had turned off location history settings. Additionally, the lawsuit claimed Google misled users about privacy protections in its incognito mode, failing to properly disclose that searches and browsing activity were still being tracked. These deceptive practices allowed Google to build comprehensive profiles of users for advertising purposes without obtaining proper consent – a particularly concerning reality for privacy-conscious conservatives.
Victory for Digital Privacy Rights
The $1.4 billion settlement represents more than just a financial windfall for Texas – it’s a powerful affirmation that even the world’s most dominant technology companies must respect privacy laws and obtain consent before collecting sensitive personal information. The money will go to the state of Texas, though specific allocations have not yet been detailed. For everyday Texas citizens, the settlement delivers accountability for past violations while potentially deterring future overreach by technology companies that have grown accustomed to collecting and monetizing personal data with minimal consequences.
As digital privacy concerns continue to grow among conservatives who rightly worry about how their personal information is being used, this settlement demonstrates how state-level action can effectively check corporate power where federal regulators have often failed. President Trump has consistently highlighted the importance of holding Big Tech accountable, and Texas’ aggressive approach aligns perfectly with this priority. The message is clear: in Texas, at least, companies cannot profit from unauthorized surveillance of citizens without facing serious financial consequences.
