Google has agreed to pay $1.375bn in a settlement with Texas over allegations that it violated users’ data privacy by secretly tracking movements, searches, voiceprints and facial geometry, the state’s attorney general said.
The agreement resolves two lawsuits filed in 2022 by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which accused the tech giant of breaching consumer protection laws through its handling of Incognito mode, location history and biometric data.
Paxton said in a statement: “For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won.” He did not specify how the settlement funds would be used.
Google did not admit wrongdoing but said the settlement covers “old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere”. Spokesperson José Castañeda added: “We are pleased to put them behind us, and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services.”
Paxton alleged that Google collected facial geometry and voiceprints without proper consent, tracked users’ location even when the feature was disabled, and misled users about the privacy protections of Incognito mode. The settlement does not require changes to Google’s products.
