Google has recently lost a class-action lawsuit in California, resulting in a hefty $314.6 million penalty. The suit, filed in 2019 on behalf of an estimated 14 million Californians, accused Google of secretly collecting and transmitting data from Android phones while they were idle. This data, allegedly used for targeted advertising, was sent to Google’s servers via cellular data, which came at the owner’s expense. Despite the jury’s decision, Google intends to appeal, arguing that no harm was caused to users and that the data transfers were essential for the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices. The company also emphasized that users consented to these practices when they accepted the Terms of Service and privacy policies.
However, many are questioning Google’s transparency.
Critics argue that collecting data without explicit user consent is a severe breach of security. Many users have voiced concerns about the practicality of understanding lengthy privacy policies, while others have expressed frustration over how this affects their device’s performance, such as faster battery drain and sudden data usage spikes. With another lawsuit pending for Android users across the remaining 49 states, it seems that Google’s legal troubles are far from over.