Google tracking class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: A class action lawsuit filed against Google LLC by a group of consumers has been certified by a California federal judge.
- Why: The consumers claim Google secretly tracked the browsing activity of its account holders while they were using third-party apps the company provides services for.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.
A federal judge in California has granted class certification to a group of consumers who accuse Google of secretly tracking the browsing activity of individuals who use third-party apps it provides services for.
The judge, in certifying the class, rejected Google’s argument that the consumers’ claims were “inherently personal” and ‘highly individualized” and “typically unsuitable for class treatment.”
“As to the uniform conduct of the class, the actual damages model does, in fact, account for class-wide attitudes and Google’s class-wide alleged wrongdoing,” the judge ruled.
The judge ruled the class members also shared “at least one uniform attitude related to privacy,” as evidenced by their “uniform conduct of switching (Web & App Activity)/(supplemental Web & App Activity) off.”
More than 100 million Google account holders part of two certified classes
Two nationwide classes totaling more than 100 million Google account holders were certified by the judge, including a class of Android users and another class of non-Android users.
The class of Android users consists of third-party app users who claim Google falsely told them they would be able to control whether Google saved data related to their activity on non-Google apps via its Web & App Activity (WAA) button.
The class of non-Android users, meanwhile, consists of third-party app users who argue they had their browsing activity sent to Google despite having the (WAA) setting turned off on their mobile devices.
“It is unreasonable for Google to expect, as it does, that users must also stop using the many apps on their phone, after selecting WAA to be off, to show a lack of consent,” the judge wrote.
Google agreed to a settlement late last month that will resolve claims it secretly tracked the internet searches of millions of users who were under the belief they were browsing privately using the Chrome Incognito browser.
Have you had your browsing activity tracked by Google without your consent? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Beko Reblitz-Richardson, Mark Mao, James Lee, Josh Stein and Logan Wright of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, John A. Yanchunis of Morgan & Morgan PA and Ryan Sila of Susman Godfrey LLP.
The Google tracking class action lawsuit is Rodriguez, et al. v. Google LLC, et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-04688, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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153 thoughts onClass certified in Google app tracking lawsuit
Yes I know very well of Google tracking my every move! Everything I even just mentioned to someone I get on phone and that very thing comes up! It does it so often it is scary. I also looks up 1 thing on google and omg that it comes up about it all on my social media, all on the web. It’s horrible!
I have talked about items with people without my phone active (using status) only to sign on to find ads regarding what we were talking about
Same here
In just the past 2 days my phone shows that Google has tracked me across different websites and apps over 127 times even though I have denied access to anything that is available to turn off. I have both an iPhone and an Android that are not connected to each other and both are concerning to my privacy. I have a Google chromecast and the Google Assistant will come on and say “ will you repeat that, I had a hard time hearing that.” This happens a few times a week. What is this about! Crazy, Creepy and Violating.
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They track all my places and files
Everytime I said something I would go online specifically on google and get an advertisement of what I said as if they are listening to me talking. One specific time was about a call I made to my doctor for my. Depression and they have at least 5 ads of depression medication doctors and even articles hours later after I went on. Google to look for an address. It was surreal!! And completely against the law and my privacy call with my doctor .
Yes. I believe Googles listens to me because after I mention something like mentioning vacation in Las Vegas. I soon thereafter start seeing advertisement for hotels and destinations in Las Vegas. Coincidence, I think not!
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Absolutely! I knew it!! Please add me.
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my settlement