Google Class Action Lawsuit Alleges ‘Voyeur Extraordinaire’

Two consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against Google and its parent company, Alphabet Inc., claiming Google uses mobile apps to illicitly intercept private communications and then sells that information to advertisers.

Lead plaintiffs Anibal Rodriguez and Julieanna Muniz say that despite following recommendations from Google and Alphabet to keep their communications private, their and other consumers’ private information was collected by apps that necessarily incorporate Google’s software development kit.

“Google promises user control and privacy,” the Google class action lawsuit states. “In reality, Google is a voyeur extraordinaire. Google is always watching. Even when it promises to look away, Google is watching. Every click, every website, every app — our entire virtual lives. Intercepted. Tracked. Logged. Compiled. Packaged. Sold for profit.”

The plaintiffs, who both own Android cellphones, say they turned off Google’s ability to collect and track their mobile app usage using the “Web & Activity” tracking setting; however, they learned their data, including their browsing history, was still being collected by Google.

According to the complaint, Google requires app developers to use Firebase SDK, a software development kit, for Android cell phones. Firebase SDK “automatically and systematically” collects user data, the plaintiffs claim. Further, Google allegedly hides the collection of this information from users.

The plaintiffs also claim the tech company utilizes Google Analytics to conduct unauthorized collection of consumer data.

“Google’s practices infringe upon consumers’ privacy; intentionally deceive consumers; give Google and its employees power to learn intimate details about individuals’ lives, interests, and app usage; and make Google a potential target for ‘one-stop shopping’ by any government, private, or criminal actor who wants to undermine individuals’ privacy, security, or freedom,” the Google class action lawsuit alleges.

The plaintiffs say Google collects a massive amount of data from users, including their political preferences, friends’ identities, pastimes, likes and dislikes, vacations information and even romantic lives.

Stating that George Orwell could not envision the amount of personal information Google collects, the complaint claims Google is not being held accountable.

According to the complaint, Google claims Firebase SK adds functionality to Android apps. However, Google allegedly purchased Firebase SK in order to “index” mobile apps. Indexing, say the plaintiffs, allows Google to use information about consumers’ public and personal actions when they conduct a Google search.

“For example, through Firebase SDK, Google can identify certain ‘actions’ consumers take within an app, such as ‘viewing a recipe,’ and then ‘log separate calls’ for each time the consumers ‘view[] a recipe (start) and then clos[e] the recipe (end),’” the Google class action lawsuit says. “In other words, Google aggressively tracks what consumers browse, see, create, and share online when using the apps installed on their mobile devices.”

According to the complaint, Firebase SK collects data from not only Google’s apps, but third-party apps, including The New York Times, Duolingo, Alibaba, Lyft, Venmo, Shazam and The Economist.

“All consumer requests for content from an app using Firebase SDK are accessible, collectible, trackable, and usable by Google — regardless of whether the user has expressly revoked permission for Google to collect and use such information,” the complaint contends.

The goal of the data collection is to improve Google’s targeted advertising algorithms in an effort to make this information available for sale to third-parties, the plaintiffs allege.

“The data collected by Firebase SDK are contemporaneously and automatically sent to Google servers and compiled by Google as part of its profiles on all consumers in the world, access to which Google then sells to advertisers for billions of dollars,” the complaint claims. “Google explains none of this to its users.”

Indeed, the Google class action lawsuit points out, both federal and California laws protect the information currently collected by Google. In addition, courts in Europe have ruled that Google’s information collection procedures are illegal.

The Google data tracking class action lawsuit seeks to represent Google subscribers in the United States whose data was intercepted without authorization by the tech company.

The plaintiffs accuse Google of knowingly intercepting, copying, taking, using and tracking consumers’ information in violation of federal and California state laws.

Are you concerned about your private information being intercepted by Google or other tech company? Tell us what you think about in the comment section below.

The lead plaintiffs and proposed Class Members are represented by Mark C. Mao, Jesse Panuccio, James Lee, Rossana Baeza and Beko Reblitz-Richardson of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.

The Google Data Tracking Class Action Lawsuit is Rodriguez, et al. v. Google LLC, et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-4688, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

YouTube Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Copyright Piracy

Google Class Action Says ‘Loot Boxes’ Are Misleading

Clergy Sex Abuse in New Jersey Catholic Church: Who’s Affected?

How Do I File a Lemon Law Claim?