Google Faces $425 Million Verdict Over Privacy Breach
Case Overview
On September 4, 2025, Alphabet's Google received a significant legal blow when a federal jury determined the tech giant must pay $425 million for privacy violations. The case centered on allegations that Google continued collecting data from millions of users who had explicitly turned off tracking features in their Google accounts over an eight-year period.
The class action lawsuit, originally filed in July 2020, accused Google of accessing users' mobile devices to collect, save, and use their data despite privacy assurances under its "Web & App Activity" setting. The violation affected approximately 98 million Google users across 174 million devices.
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| Google faces $425 million verdict over privacy breach |
Key Case Details
| Case Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Location | Federal Court in San Francisco |
| Verdict Amount | $425 Million |
| Original Damages Sought | Over $31 Billion |
| Affected Users | 98 Million Google Users |
| Affected Devices | 174 Million Devices |
| Time Period | 8 Years of Data Collection |
| Filing Date | July 2020 |
Legal Findings
The jury found Google liable on two of three privacy violation claims brought by the plaintiffs. Notably, the jury determined that Google had not acted with malice, which prevented the plaintiffs from receiving punitive damages. This distinction was crucial in limiting the financial penalty to $425 million rather than a potentially larger punitive award.
Google's Recent Privacy Settlement Costs
How the Data Collection Worked
According to the lawsuit, Google continued collecting user data through its relationships with popular apps including Uber, Venmo, and Meta's Instagram. These apps utilized certain Google analytics services, creating a backdoor for data collection even when users had disabled the "Web & App Activity" setting.
Google defended its practices by stating that the collected data was "nonpersonal, pseudonymous, and stored in segregated, secured, and encrypted locations." The company argued that this data was not associated with users' Google accounts or any individual user's identity.
Timeline of Events
Company Response and Future Implications
Google has announced its intention to appeal the verdict. Company spokesperson Jose Castaneda stated, "This decision misunderstands how our products work. Our privacy tools give people control over their data, and when they turn off personalization, we honor that choice."
Meanwhile, David Boies, representing the plaintiffs, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, indicating that users were "obviously very pleased with the verdict the jury returned."
This verdict represents part of a broader pattern of privacy-related legal challenges facing Google. The company has faced increasing scrutiny over its data collection practices, resulting in multiple settlements and legal actions across different jurisdictions.
Broader Privacy Landscape
The $425 million verdict occurs within a context of heightened privacy enforcement. Technology companies are facing increased regulatory pressure and legal action regarding data collection practices. This case demonstrates the potential financial consequences when user trust is compromised, even when companies argue their practices involve anonymized or pseudonymous data.
For users, this case highlights the importance of understanding how their data is collected and used, even when privacy settings suggest otherwise. It also underscores the ongoing legal evolution surrounding digital privacy rights in an increasingly connected world.
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Our privacy tools give people control over their data, and when they turn off personalization, we honor that choice
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