Thanks to its recent location tracking deceptions, Google is being sued by a California man. And he’s seeking class-action status for the suit, which means it could involve many millions of defendants.
“Google expressly represented to users of its operating system and apps that the activation of certain settings will prevent the tracking of users’ geolocations,” the complaint explains. “This representation was false. Despite users’ attempts to protect their location privacy, Google collects and stores users’ location data, thereby invading users’ reasonable expectations of privacy.”
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The suit, which was first reported by Ars Technica, could be expanded to include any users of iPhones or Android-based phones who had turned off Google’s location tracking functionality. It was filed last Friday and charges that Google violated the California Invasion of Privacy Act and the state’s constitutional right to privacy, the site says.
Google, as you may recall, was found to have ignored users who configured its ability to track their locations by disabling the Location History setting attached to their online accounts. It did so using the Microsoft playbook, by having an additional setting with a nonsensical name that, when left enabled, allowed Google to continue tracking the location history.
The issue, of course, is that Google’s public-facing explanations of how users might disable location tracking was deceptive and failed to mention this additional setting. So in the wake of the original report, the online giant quietly added language to its support website that explained that others settings would also impact this tracking.
Since then, Google has updated that language yet again. As Android Police explains, the site now says that the Location History setting works at the Google account level and that this setting “does not affect other location services on your device, like Google Location Services and Find My Device.” Furthermore, “some location data may be saved as part of your activity on other services, like Search and Maps.” The site now explains how you can turn off Location services at the device level too.
Google’s data collection is a double-edged sword. As is the case with other products that silently collection tons of user data, like Windows 10, Google’s services get better specifically because the firm collections this data. It’s unclear, for example, why the typical Google Maps user would want to disable location history.
But in this age of privacy awareness, Google’s data collection habits were bound to cause problems eventually. And in addition to the lawsuit, Google could now face regulatory scrutiny too: The Electronic Privacy Information Center warned the FTC last week that Google is now violating its 2011 and 2012 settlements with the agency, both of which center on its deceptive privacy practices.
Lateef Alabi-Oki
<blockquote><em><a href="#303231">In reply to jrickel96:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>You need a show on Comedy Central. </p><p><br></p><p>Google was ready for GDPR before GDPR. Google WAS THE ONLY MAJOR TECH COMPANY that allowed users to control, tweak, and manage their privacy and data on Google's cloud at the most granular level LONG BEFORE THE GDPR. Even today, no other tech company provides the granularity of knobs and settings available on Google's privacy and security dashboard. </p><p><br></p><p>The dumbasses that don't know the difference between Location History and Location Tracking are just, well, dumb. Anybody who thinks turning off Location History is the same as turning of Location Services doesn't deserve to own a phone.</p><p><br></p><p>Chrome OS is the most exciting and most versatile OS on the market today. It's bound to become popular in education, business, enterprise and among developers. It can run web apps, android apps, and linux apps natively. And soon will be able to run Windows apps too. I don't know any OS that even comes close to these level of versatility. Even the hardcore Windows and Apple fanboys, sycophants, and bloggers are have evolved past the notion that Chrome OS is just a glorified web browser, have all eaten crow, and have now adjusted their stance to recognize Chrome OS as a bonafide threat Windows and macOS. </p><p><br></p><p>The portal to the web, Chrome, is owned by Google. The portal to mobile computing, Android, is owned by Google. The portal to the future of computing, AI, is dominated by Google. And as result Google services and products are in extremely high demand because they exist in a stratosphere of their own. It's hard to find a person on the planet, that has access to a computing device and the Internet that doesn't use at least 1 Google product. That's an impossible feat for even the next top 5 tech companies.</p><p> </p><p>So, the idea that Google is going to be irrelevant in 5 years isn't even a bad joke. It's unhealthy delusion that demands several appointments with a shrink.</p>
Bats
<p>Fine, by me. Lawsuits mean nothing, at this point. </p><p><br></p><p>Bottom line is that Google makes great stuff. I don't mind Google getting my information at all. It's like hiring a (human being) personal assistant. That assistant is suppose to know everything about you, such as how you like your coffee, your wife's favorite caller, what you are going to do three weeks from now, etc…. That's what Google is for, but in a virtual way. Therefore, I don't mind them "collecting my stuff."</p><p><br></p><p>LOL…LOL…LOL….</p><p><br></p><p>It's because of stuff like this, is why…WHY…I don't mind using Google services. Living in the United States, one MUST know that a company like Google is always one step away from this type of litigation and worst, FEDERAL LITIGATION. If this guy suing can prove damages done unto him by Google, ….lol….it's only going to make Google products better, safer, etc…. This could even go to Washington DC. Heck, you know that Trump would probably get in on the action. Federal prosection is the last thing Google or anyone wants. If an entity goes up against the unlimited resources of the US Government, he/she/it is going to lose. It's an automatic loss. Look at Microsoft. They didn't technically lose, but no doubt the losses they incurred though the federal government. </p><p><br></p><p>ANYWAY….I really don't care what happens. I hope the guy suing wins. However, like I said…lawsuits mean nothing. Especially class action suits. This is going to take years and years in litigation for what? Five bucks? The guyand other people have to prove damages were done to him. If he can do that, then fine. However, the BIG HURT (like i said), would be if the Federal Government goes after Google. I don't mind if they do. Google has always needed to be pegged down a notch or two from their high horse. </p><p><br></p><p>All in all, the collecting of privacy data is meaningless if users consent to it. If they didn't, as proven by the action they have taken prevent their data from being collected, then Google needs to be prosecuted.</p><p><br></p><p>However, no matter, that still won't preclude me from buying a Pixel 3 XL when it comes out. </p>