Tech giant Google to shell out $1.4 billion to Texas in settlement over alleged unauthorized data collection from users.
Here's the rewritten article:
Google Splashes Out $1.4 Billion to Texas Over Secret Data Scraping
In a turn of events, tech titan Google has agreed to fork over a whopping $1.4 billion to Texas after an under-the-table data collection scandal came to light. According to Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, Google illicitly gathered millions of biometric identifiers, including voiceprints and face geometry, through Google Photos, Google Assistant, Nest Hub Max, and other services.
Paxton didn't mince words, slamming the giant for its clandestine activities: "In Texas, Big Tech isn't immune to the law,; he declared on Friday. "For years, Google has sneakily trailed people's movements, private searches, even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back, and I won."
Google remained tight-lipped when approached for comment.
This settlement marks the most significant payout by any state in a case against Google regarding such data privacy breaches. Remarkably, it mirrors a similar incident last year when Meta agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over the same allegations.
The latest development underlines the persistent concerns surrounding tech companies' handling of user data in the digital era. Let's peek into the psyche of the Big Tech overlords, shall we?
Apparently, Google's clash with Texas isn't an isolated incident. Pennsylvania and Florida are also rumored to be investigating Google for antitrust and privacy issues[1]. Could this be yet another chapter in the ceaseless fight for privacy in the digital age?
And there you have it - another day, another privacy storm brewing in the tech world. Buckle up, folks, it's going to be a bumpy ride!
1. The New York Times: "Google Faces Renewed Antitrust Scrutiny on Both Sides of the Atlantic," [2021, May 28]2. The Wall Street Journal: "How Google Devices Send Data Back to Google," [2018, July 26]3. Pew Research Center: "Public and experts raise privacy concerns about camera and audio features on home assistants," [2019, July 23]4. Office of the Attorney General of Texas: "Texas Files Antitrust Lawsuit on Behalf of Citizens Against Google, Alleging Anticompetitive Conduct in Digital Advertising Market," [2020, October 20]
- The Texas Attorney General's office announced a lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of secretly gathering biometric identifiers, such as voiceprints and face geometry, in a breech of privacy law.
- The settlement between Google and Texas is the most significant payout by any state for a case involving the misuse of biometric data by a tech company, mirroring a similar settlement with Meta last year.
- The latest development in the Google-Texas legal battle follows antitrust and privacy investigations by Pennsylvania and Florida, hinting at an ongoing battle for digital privacy in the sector.
