Google sued by D.C. and three states after allegedly misleading consumers about location tracking
Google allegedly lied by telling consumers that certain apps wouldn’t work without location data
AG Racine says that Google makes it seem as though consumers can stop their locations from getting tracked by changing the settings on their phones. But the attorney general says that regardless of the settings and changes made by Android users, their location settings are still being collected by Google.
Washington D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine is taking on Google
Racine states, “Google falsely led consumers to believe that changing their account and device settings would allow customers to protect their privacy and control what personal data the company could access. The truth is that contrary to Google’s representations it continues to systematically surveil customers and profit from customer data.” He is asking for a court order that would stop Google from committing “unlawful practices.”
What does Google say to defend itself?
Google spokesman José Castañeda said, “The Attorneys General are bringing a case based on inaccurate claims and outdated assertions about our settings. We have always built privacy features into our products and provided robust controls for location data. We will vigorously defend ourselves and set the record straight.”
The attorneys general also referred to “deceptive design methods” called “dark patterns” used to stop users from protecting their privacy in order to stop users from protecting their privacy. Among things that they claim Google uses to get its way are “repeated nudging, misleading pressure tactics, and evasive and deceptive descriptions of features and settings.” The four suits are filed under local consumer protection laws and seek to fine Google, and to stop its practice of collecting location data collection for users who have opted out.
Google alone can keep an army of attorneys well-fed for years. Just last Friday, the company asked a federal court to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit filed against it by several states including Texas. The issue in this suit revolves around the system that publishers use to market ad space to advertisers. The four aforementioned attorney generals have also worked together in filing similar antitrust actions against the company.
