Google to Pay $85M Settlement in Arizona User-Tracking Case
This is one of the largest settlements in the state's history, according to Arizona's attorney general.
- Apple software beta tester, "Helps make our computers and phones work!" - Zach's grandparents
Google will settle a lawsuit in Arizona claiming the company illegally tracked Android users.
Google will pay $85 million to the state of Arizona to resolve a lawsuit claiming the company illegally tracked Android device users, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Tuesday. Brnovich's office also said this settlement is the largest paid by Google per capita in a consumer fraud lawsuit.
"I'm proud to announce our historic $85 million settlement against Google for deceptive and unfair practices used to obtain users' location data," Brnovich tweeted.
I’m proud to announce our historic $85 million settlement against Google for deceptive and unfair practices used to obtain users’ location data. When I was elected attorney general, I promised Arizonans I would fight for them and hold everyone accountable. https://t.co/fHpN7j8BM5
— Mark Brnovich (@GeneralBrnovich) October 4, 2022
"This case is based on outdated product policies that we changed years ago," Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda told CNET. "We are pleased to have this matter resolved and will continue to focus our attention on providing useful products for our users."
Brnovich filed the lawsuit against Google in 2020, contending that the company used unfair and deceptive practices to obtain user location data. The lawsuit came two years after the Associated Press reported that Google tracked user location data, even if customers explicitly told Google to stop.
This is the latest lawsuit Google has settled out of court.
Google settled a gender discrimination lawsuit in June for $118 million, and it settled a class action lawsuit, which claimed the company violated Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act, in May for $100 million.
