Google will pay 40 US states $391.5 million to settle 'location tracking' probe
File photo of Google logo.
Alphabet's Google has agreed to pay $391.5 million to settle claims made by 40 US states that the tech giant is monitoring its users' whereabouts.
The Michigan attorney general announced the news on Monday (November 14).
The probe and settlement were headed by Oregon and Nebraska, showing that the firm is rapidly increasing its customer monitoring practices.
The lowa attorney general has also asked the firm to be more transparent with users, with comprehensive information about the location-tracking data on a safe and dedicated page, and be more upfront about when the tracking happens, Reuters reported.
Watch |WION Fineprint: Google Chrome is most vulnerable browser in 2022
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Commonwealth Games 2026: Gurindervir Singh crashes out of men's 100m heats despite record-breaking season
)
'Agitation cannot justify lathi-charge': CJI Surya Kant's BIG response to police brutality against protesting students
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Hidden in British archives: Scientists decode 200-year-old Indian scroll that helped sailors cross one of the world's toughest seas
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
'House raided, father picked up': UP man Mohd Junaid alleges crackdown after CJP protest; Police deny claims
)
Trump's latest rant is about a 'massive television outage' that never happened
)
Putin rambles in TV speech after cancelling Navy Day parade fearing an attack by Ukraine
)
RSS backed Jantar Mantar student protest? Mohan Bhagwat's 'question authority' remark resurfaces
)
ChatGPT invoked God, told pastor not to worry about his symptoms. Then pulmonary embolism hit
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
Delhi Police issues BIG statement on viral 'don't leave national capital without permission' notice | FACT CHECK
)
'They’re afraid right now...': Netanyahu reacts for first time after Mamdani threatens arrest over ICC warrant
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Google ends Play Services Support, likely to stop these Android phones from downloading apps & games
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (July 27-August 2, 2026): The Devil Wears Prada 2, Batman, Demon Slayer- 5 titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Spain: Fresh wildfires break out in Valencia
)
US says Turkey still barred from F-35 program until it gives up Russian S-400 system: Report
)
Will Iran war last months or even years? Here's what new poll shows about what most Americans think
)
Bihar wants 'backless Saturday’ in govt schools as official notice misspells 'bagless'
)
'Broader struggle for democracy...': Greta Thunberg joins Indian students protest in London - What she said
)
'Won't go unanswered': Will the Ukrainian attacks on Caspian Sea vessels lead to the convergence of the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war?
)
What we know about Seattle mass shooting: 3 dead, suspect arrested and one at large
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the specialized paint on an S-400 costs thousands of dollars per truck
)
India's foreign ministry debunks viral claim made during last week's protests
The attorney general said, "When consumers make the decision to not share location data on their devices, they should be able to trust that a company will no longer track their every move."
A customer location is a marketer's breakthrough for helping an advertiser to make more relevant ads appear and grabs consumer attention. The firm's ad business generated over $111 billion in the first half of this year through advertisement.
Responding to the situation, the representative for the tech company Jose Castaneda said, "Consistent with improvements we've made in recent years, we have settled this investigation which was based on outdated product policies that we changed years ago."
A similar case was filed by Arizona against Google which was resolved bythe firm paying $85 million last month.
In January, Texas, Indiana, Washington and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against Google for its dishonest location-tracking methods.
WATCH WION LIVE HERE