Google Settles on a US Location Tracking Probe

Google agreed on a $391.5 million settlement in the US. The settlement was reached on a probe launched by 40 states which said that the company tracked users’ locations to benefit its digital advertising business.

A statement from Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel along with the 39 other attorney generals, explained the settlement had been reached following a four-year investigation. In addition to the payment, Google will be required to be more transparent by making users aware of how their location data is being used along with how to change account settings if they wish to disable the function, limit data collection and delete information already accrued.

The attorney generals launched the probe in 2018 following an Associated Press article that revealed Google recorded movements even when you explicitly tell it not to, focusing specifically on the company’s location history, and web and app activity settings. Nessel explained location is a key part of Google’s digital advertising business, with the company employing the personal and behavioral data it collects to build detailed user profiles and target adverts on behalf of its customers. Google faced a similar probe in Arizona and agreed to pay $85 million as a settlement last month.