Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Friday that Google will pay $1.375 billion to settle allegations that the tech giant violated users’ data privacy rights. The settlement resolves two major lawsuits filed by the state, which accused Google of unlawfully tracking users and collecting sensitive biometric data without obtaining proper consent.
The lawsuits, filed under Texas consumer protection laws, focused on three of Google’s prominent products: Google Photos, Google Assistant, and Android devices. According to the state, the company used these platforms to collect and store biometric identifiers, such as facial and voice recognition data, from millions of users across Texas. The Attorney General’s office argued that these practices were conducted without clear disclosure or user permission, in violation of Texas privacy laws.
“This is a historic victory for Texans,” said Paxton in a statement. “Companies like Google cannot continue to exploit our personal information and get away with it. This settlement holds them accountable for years of deceptive and invasive data collection practices.”
The $1.375 billion settlement is one of the largest ever related to data privacy enforcement by a state attorney general. The funds from the settlement will be used, in part, to support further consumer protection efforts and potentially compensate affected Texans. It also underscores a growing national trend of increasing scrutiny on how major tech companies handle user data.
Google did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement but agreed to reform certain practices to improve transparency and compliance with state laws. A spokesperson for the company stated, “We’re pleased to resolve these matters and will continue to make updates that give users more control over their information.”
The resolution comes amid a broader wave of legal challenges facing big tech over privacy concerns, as state and federal regulators ramp up efforts to impose stricter controls on data collection and digital surveillance practices.
As part of the agreement, Texas will monitor Google’s compliance to ensure adherence to the updated data policies. The settlement sends a strong message that even the most powerful tech companies will be held accountable when they violate consumer rights.
