Alphabet’s Google has been ordered by a U.S. federal jury to pay $425 million in damages after being found liable for violating user privacy. The class-action case centered on allegations that the tech giant continued to collect data from users even after they disabled activity tracking settings.
Case Background
The lawsuit, filed in 2020, represented nearly 98 million users across 174 million devices. Plaintiffs argued that between 2012 and 2020, Google continued storing user data from apps such as Uber, Venmo, and Instagram despite the “Web & App Activity” feature being turned off.
While damages sought exceeded $31 billion, the jury ultimately awarded $425 million, ruling Google liable on two out of three claims. Importantly, the jury did not impose punitive damages, finding no evidence of malicious intent.
Google’s Response
Google said it would appeal the decision, arguing that the ruling misunderstood how its products work. The company maintained that when users turn off personalization, their preferences are respected, and the data in question was pseudonymous, not tied directly to personal identities.
Broader Context
The verdict adds to mounting regulatory and legal challenges for Big Tech firms over user privacy. Google has already faced several high-profile cases this year, including a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas and commitments to delete data collected during private “Incognito” sessions.
Privacy advocates say the case underscores a growing global demand for transparency and accountability in how digital platforms handle personal data. The ruling highlights that privacy settings must function as promised and that failure to respect user controls could have severe financial and reputational consequences.
