The lawsuit, filed in 2019, alleged that Google misled consumers about how it tracked their location data even when they had turned off the “Location History” setting. The lawsuit also alleged that Google failed to adequately disclose that it was still collecting location data through other settings.
Under the settlement, Google will pay $39.9 million to the state of Washington and implement reforms to increase transparency about its location tracking settings. The company will also provide consumers with more information about how their location data is used and how to control it.
Google has agreed to provide clear and conspicuous disclosures about its location tracking settings and to make it easier for consumers to control their location data. The company will also provide a dedicated page on its website that explains how its location tracking settings work.
The settlement is a victory for consumers and a reminder that companies must be transparent about how they use consumer data.