Google has reportedly pay almost $ 400 million to settle a class natural process suit allege the fellowship cross user locations , even when they hadmade efforts to turn the feature off .
The reported $ 391.5 1000 settlement ( viaNew York Times ) is almost five years in the making and comes after an Associated Press probe found that Google continue following users GPS locations , even when users had explicitly opted out .
The mathematical group of attorneys oecumenical from 40 US states argued that Google had misled substance abuser on iOS and Android . Even when exploiter paused the “ Location History ” feature on their devices , Google continued to taciturnly track their apparent motion in the background . The case alleged Google would then sell the data point to advertisers .
Google has write a blog on Monday confirm a colonisation , but not the amount . The company enounce the case touch on to “ outdated product policies that we change year ago ” . Google also enounce “ we will be making updates in the come in months to provide even great control and transparency over placement data point . ”
Google says those updates include the simplified deletion of location datum , which Google say “ allows user to easily turn off their Location History and Web & App Activity preferences and delete their retiring data in one unproblematic flow . We ’ll also bear on delete Location History data for user who have not recently lead fresh Location History data to their account . ”
Google says it is revamp its user data hubs to ensure users know that emplacement datum can actually be utilitarian for them too , while the company is also making it easier to make “ informed choices ” about their data .
in conclusion , when you set up a new history , Google will provide more detailed info on what users are actually sign up for . “ Today ’s settlement is another footstep along the course of yield more meaningful choices and minimizing data collection while providing more helpful services , ” the company total in theblog post .
In reception to the settlement , Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum allege ( viaThe Verge ): “ For years Google has prioritised profit over their user ’ concealment . Consumers thought they had turn off their location tracking features on Google , but the company continued to in secret memorialise their movements and utilize that information for advertizer . ”
