Google fined $425 million for secretly tracking users: 5 big takeaways

The $425 million penalty
A US federal court has ordered Google to pay $425 million after it was found guilty of collecting data from millions of users who had turned off tracking. The case shows that even when users said “no,” Google continued gathering information through its services.

What the lawsuit was about
The class action lawsuit, filed in 2020, claimed Google violated privacy assurances in its “Web & App Activity” setting. Around 98 million users and 174 million devices were covered, with plaintiffs originally seeking damages worth more than $31 billion.

Jury’s findings
The jury ruled Google liable for two out of three privacy violation claims but noted the company didn’t act with “malice.” Still, the verdict makes it clear that Google’s practices went against what users were promised when they switched off tracking.

Where the data went
According to the lawsuit, Google’s collection extended to apps like Uber, Lyft, Amazon, Alibaba, Instagram, and Facebook. Even with tracking turned off, businesses using Google Analytics could still collect data. Google says this information isn’t tied to individual identities, but users felt misled.

Bigger legal battles for Google
This verdict isn’t Google’s only headache. The company is also facing antitrust cases over its Chrome browser and ad tech monopoly. A judge recently ruled Google can keep Chrome but must share search data with competitors, signaling more challenges ahead for the tech giant.