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Google Inc. has agreed to an $8.5 million class action settlement over allegations that the Internet search company illegally provided user search data to third parties.

U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila was asked to approve the Google data class action settlement, which includes a request for Google to update its “Frequently Asked Questions” section to disclose its practice of providing search data to third parties. Under the class action settlement agreement, Google will pay millions of dollars to Internet privacy groups and nonprofit organizations, including the MacArthur Foundation, Stanford Law’s Center for Internet and Society and Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society.

The settlement will not provide monetary benefit to the more than 100 million consumers that make up the class.

“In light of the minimal monetary recovery that would have been realistically recovered by individual Class Members and the immediate benefits offered to the class by injunctive relief and cy pres donations, the settlement is deserving of preliminary approval,” the plaintiffs said in their motion for approval.

The Google data class action lawsuits accused Google of illegally including search terms in the URL displayed on the search results page. The plaintiffs allege that their search terms are visible to the owners of third-party websites via the Google Analytics feature. When users search their own names, the information is sent to website owners. The plaintiffs are concerned that owners of the third-party websites can use their name and find their location using their IP addresses. They fear that this disclosure of personal information can lead to the disclosure of “sensitive personal information.”

Because the class action lawsuit likely involves more than 100 million Google users, the plaintiffs believed direct payment would be ineffective as the individual Class Members would not receive much money from the settlement.

The Google search data lawsuit was initially filed by plaintiff Paloma Gaos in 2010. Gaos alleged that she performed a Google search of the names of herself and her family members. She clicked on links in the Google search results. She alleges that Google disclosed her “sensitive personal information” to third parties.

Although a California judge removed several claims from the original class action lawsuit in March 2012, allegations that Google violated the Stored Communication Act were allowed to proceed. Gaos filed an amended complaint, adding Anthony Italiano as an additional plaintiff in the class action lawsuit. The amended complaint included alleged violations of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and California’s Unfair Competition Law. The plaintiffs also included claims of unjust enrichment and breach of contract.

In February 2012, Gabriel Priyev filed a similar Google search data lawsuit in Illinois federal court. Priyev says that he will seek to transfer his class action lawsuit to Judge Davila for settlement purposes.

The plaintiffs are represented by Michael Aschenbrenner of Aschenbrenner Law PC, Kassra Nassiri of Nassiri & Jung LLP and Ilan Chorowsky of Progressive Law Group LLC.

The Google Search Data Class Action Lawsuits are Gaos v. Google Inc., Case No. 5:10-cv-04809, and Priyev v. Google Inc., Case No. 5:13-cv-00093, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

UPDATE: The Google search data class action settlement has been preliminarily approved.

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8 thoughts onGoogle Agrees to $8.5M Search Data Class Action Settlement

  1. ANITA BROOKS says:

    would like to file and so would some people i know

  2. Jacqueline w says:

    i has a gmail and i always have issues, when can i file. That is so not right we as the public trust them to an extent to protect their product in return we give them our business.

  3. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE: The Google search data class action settlement has been preliminarily approved: http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/21691-8-5m-google-search-data-class-action-settlement-gets-preliminary-ok/

  4. monique hopkins says:

    I’m not happy with the change, I do not want my information exposed. Please add me to the class action settlement, thanks.

  5. Sapu says:

    Why not donate the funds to the Hispanic and negro college funds os St Jude. Where it’s most needed. Stanford and Harvard? Yeah, and in exchange I am sure there will be kick backs.

  6. michael anderson says:

    how do I file for the class action

  7. MELVIN WILKES says:

    when can i file?

  8. Bonita says:

    unbelievable, I have personal information that should not be displayed to the public. I followed the prompted to have info removed sometime ago. It stated removed still visible to click on to review my information. I’m livid regarding this. thanks for any help.

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