Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to the state of Texas to settle allegations that it violated residents’ privacy by secretly tracking their movements, voiceprints, and online behavior, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on May 9.
What led to the settlement?
In 2022, Paxton sued Google twice, accusing the company of violating state consumer protection laws. The lawsuits alleged that Google:
- Collected and stored users’ voiceprints and facial geometry without permission
- Tracked users’ locations, even when settings suggested location sharing was disabled
- Misled users about Incognito mode, which many believed ensured private browsing
“For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their facial features,” Paxton said. “In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law.”
Which Google features were involved?
The lawsuits focused on three products and features:
- Location History
- Chrome Incognito Mode
- Biometric data collection on Android and other platforms
Texas officials argued that Google deceived users by allowing these features to collect sensitive data without transparent disclosures.
What Google says about the agreement
Google denied all wrongdoing. The company stated that the lawsuits targeted outdated practices and policies that it has already changed.
“We’re pleased to resolve these claims and move forward,” said Google spokesperson José Castañeda. “This agreement ends litigation around policies we’ve already updated, and we remain committed to building privacy tools that give users control.”
The settlement does not require Google to make any new product changes.
What happens to the $1.38 billion?
Paxton’s office has not said how it will use the settlement funds. The money may support consumer protection or privacy initiatives, but Texas has yet to release an official plan.
How this compares to other tech privacy cases
This marks one of the largest privacy settlements by a single state. In a similar case last year, Meta (formerly Facebook) agreed to pay $1.4 billion to Texas to settle claims related to facial recognition.
As states continue to challenge tech giants on data privacy, large settlements like these show growing enforcement at the state level—even when federal rules remain limited.
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