Google Ordered to Pay $425.7 Million in Landmark Privacy Case
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal jury in San Francisco has ordered tech giant Google to pay $425.7 million in damages for improperly tracking the online activities of smartphone users over a period spanning nearly a decade. The landmark verdict, reached on Wednesday after a more than two-week trial, marks a significant moment in the ongoing battle over digital privacy.
The Jury’s Verdict and Damages
The class-action lawsuit covered approximately 98 million smartphones operating within the United States between July 1, 2016, and September 23, 2024. The jury’s award translates to roughly $4 in damages per affected device, finding that Google had violated California privacy laws by collecting user data without explicit permission.
Google Vows to Appeal
Throughout the legal proceedings, Google steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that its privacy tools grant users control over their data and that the company honors choices to disable personalization. “This decision misunderstands how our products work, and we will appeal it,” stated Google spokesman Jose Castaneda on Thursday. “Our privacy tools give people control over their data, and when they turn off personalization, we honor that choice.”
Plaintiffs’ Arguments and A Victory for Privacy
However, attorneys representing the plaintiffs argued that Google leveraged the surreptitiously collected smartphone data to fuel its lucrative advertising business, generating billions in additional revenue through ads tailored to individual user interests. Initially, the legal team had sought damages exceeding $30 billion, framing Google’s actions as illegal profiteering.
John Yanchunis, an attorney from the law firm Morgan & Morgan, hailed the verdict as a victory for consumer privacy. “We hope this result sends a message to the tech industry that Americans will not sit idly by as their information is collected and monetized against their will,” Yanchunis remarked, underscoring the broader implications for data collection practices across the industry.
Broader Legal Scrutiny for the Tech Giant
This verdict arrives just one day after Google navigated another substantial legal challenge in Washington, D.C. In that instance, a federal judge had declared Google’s dominant search engine an illegal monopoly in a landmark antitrust case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. While the judge ordered less radical changes, such as requiring Google to share some of its search data with rivals, both cases collectively highlight the increasing legal and regulatory scrutiny faced by the technology giant concerning its market power and data handling practices.
