Google will pay $135 million to settle illegal data collection lawsuit

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ZenithBloom

Google is set to hand over a staggering $135 million to settle allegations that it has been secretly collecting data from Android phone users without their consent. The tech giant faces off against a group of plaintiffs who claim that since 2017, Google has been hoovering up cellular data even when apps were closed or location features were disabled.

At the heart of the lawsuit lies a contentious issue known as "conversion," which occurs when one party takes property belonging to another with the intention of depriving them of it. The plaintiffs believe that by using their data for marketing and product development, Google has been committing this very offense.

According to reports, the affected Android users stood to gain significant compensation, with each eligible user potentially pocketing up to $100 from the settlement fund. However, Google maintains its innocence, citing a commitment to obtain consent during the setup process of new phones going forward. To that end, a toggle will be added to allow users to opt-out of data transfer at the click of a button.

Google has taken steps to adjust its terms of service in light of this settlement, while also agreeing to make such changes available to users immediately. A trial is set for August 5, but with Google's latest financial outlay, it seems that this case may be all but settled.

This week marks the second time this month that Google has agreed to a significant payout over data collection allegations. Back on January 26, the company reached an agreement worth $68 million regarding claims of Google Assistant misusing users' conversations.
 
😕 I feel for those Android phone users who had their personal data collected without consent... it's crazy to think that even with location features disabled or apps closed, they were still being tracked 📊🚫. It's not right that companies like Google prioritize profits over people's privacy, but at least this settlement fund of $135 million is a step in the right direction 💸. I'm glad some compensation will be made available to those affected, even if it's only up to $100 each 🤑. Google needs to take more responsibility for protecting users' data and being transparent about their practices 🤝.
 
Google is like that one character from The Matrix, all sneaky and stuff 🤖. Collecting data without consent? That's just not cool, man 😐. I'm glad they're settling this lawsuit for a pretty penny – $135 million is no joke 💸. But what really gets me is that it took a group of plaintiffs to figure out that Google was playing some shady tricks 🤔.

And can we talk about how this settlement fund works? If each affected user could get up to $100, that's like, a whole lotta cash 😎. I'm not saying Google's always bad, but come on, guys, transparency is key 🔒. At least now they're adding that toggle for users to opt-out of data transfer – progress, right? 🔄
 
🤔 just another example of how much we trust these tech giants with our personal info 📊 I mean, who needs control over their own data anyway? 💸 And now Google's going to fork out a pretty penny to settle the issue, but it's not like they're actually admitting to doing anything wrong 😏. Still, I guess it's better that users will have the option to opt-out of data transfer in the future 🔄... maybe we'll even use it 🤷‍♀️
 
I'm glad they're finally doing something about it 🙌. I mean, come on, who hasn't noticed that apps are always collecting some kind of data in the background? It's like, what even is the point of having an ad blocker if Google's still gonna sell your info to advertisers? 😂 But for real, this settlement should've happened years ago. It's about time someone held them accountable for their practices. I'm not saying it's a perfect solution, but at least they're making changes now 🙏. The fact that we can opt-out with just one click is a good start, I guess 👍.
 
Omg, like, I'm literally shook 💥 about this latest settlement deal between Google and Android phone users! The amount of $$$ is straight fire - $135 million! 🤑 I mean, I know some ppl are gonna be all upset 'cause they didn't give their consent for Google to collect their data, but at least the company's takin steps to make it right. They're addin this toggle thingy that lets users opt-out, which is a pretty cool move imo 👍

I'm just curious, though - how many ppl actually used those features without knowin they were gettin tracked? 🤔 And what about all the other apps that do the same thing? Is Google bein extra 'cause they got caught this time? 🤷‍♀️ Either way, I think it's awesome that they're takin responsibility and makin changes. It's a win-win for both users and Google! 💸
 
ugh, i'm both relieved and annoyed at the same time 🤔💸. like, google is finally being held accountable for its shady practices, which is a good thing 🙌. but at the same time, $135 million is still a LOT of money 💰. it's crazy to think that they're paying out so much just because they messed up a little (okay, a lot). and now they're going to change their terms of service, which is basically just lip service 🤷‍♀️. i mean, we all know how often those changes actually stick 🙄.

anyway, i guess it's better that people are getting some money 💸. but let's be real, the harm has already been done 😔. and what about all the other companies like facebook and apple who have probably been doing similar things? 🤷‍♀️ this feels like just a drop in the bucket to me 🌊.
 
just hope these android users get a good chunk of change out of this... its crazy how big corps like google can just take people's data without consent 🤑 think about it, if you were on your phone and suddenly you started getting ads for things you've never looked at before or bought... would you be all cool with that? didn't think so. glad they're making some changes to give users more control over their info 🚫
 
I'm not buying it 🙄. This is just another case of "we messed up, so we'll hand over some cash" 😒. I mean, how many times do tech companies have to get caught red-handed collecting data without consent before they learn their lesson? 🤦‍♂️ It's always the same story - "oh, it was an honest mistake" or "we're doing our best to improve our processes now". When will we see real change instead of just token payouts? 💸 I'm still waiting for Google to demonstrate a genuine commitment to user transparency and control. Until then, I'll remain skeptical 🤔.
 
omg can you believe google is like "oh no we messed up let's just give everyone a bunch of cash" 🤑 I mean, who doesn't love getting money out of nowhere? it's like winning the lottery... minus the fun part where you actually get to buy a house and stuff. so basically they're saying "we were bad, here's some cash, sorry not sorry" 😂
 
OMG, can you believe how much money Google is giving away? I mean, $135 million is crazy! 🤑 As a student, it's actually kinda interesting to learn about how these big tech companies operate and get caught out. But what's even more interesting is that this settlement is like, a major wake-up call for us as users. I was reading the news while studying for my exams and I'm just thinking, if Google can do it, why can't other schools be more transparent about their online policies? 🤔

I mean, think about it, we students are already glued to our phones, so we need to know what's being done with our data. It's like, basic human rights stuff! 😊 And now that Google is making changes to its terms of service, I'm hoping more companies will follow suit and start prioritizing user consent.

It's also kinda cool that the affected users could potentially get up to $100 from the settlement fund! 💸 That's like, a pretty sweet chunk of change. But seriously, this case should be a major lesson for all of us about online security and data protection. Let's hope other companies take note and start being more transparent and responsible with our data! 👍
 
I'm calling BS on Google's 'opt-out' toggle 🙄. How hard is it for them to just ask people if they're cool with sharing their data in the first place? And what's with this conversion thing - sounds like a fancy way of saying 'we found a way to get around your settings'. 100 bucks isn't going to cut it for all these users, but I guess it's better than nothing 💸. Still, Google's been getting away with some shady stuff for years...
 
I mean, can you believe the amount of money google is shelling out? $135 MILLION?! That's insane! It's like they were just collecting data left and right without even asking. I don't blame the android users one bit for taking them to court. Conversion is a pretty shady tactic if you ask me. And now, google's all like "oh, we're changing our terms of service" but it's too little, too late. Mark my words, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tech companies respecting users' data. They need to get their act together and prioritize user consent ASAP! 🙄👎
 
OMG 🤯 what's up with all these data scandals lately?! I feel like I'm reading it in the news every week! 😂 It's crazy to think that even big companies like Google are doing things without our consent. $135 million is a lot of dough, but at least some people will get their money back 🤑. Can't help but wonder if they'll make those changes stick... fingers crossed 👍
 
omg I just saw the cutest video of a cat trying to "help" its owner cook on YouTube 🐈🍳 and I swear it's like they're trying to outsmart the camera lol. anyway, back to this Google settlement... $135 million is insane! can you believe all that money is being handed over for not asking permission when they collect data? 🤑 it just highlights how companies are always thinking about the bottom line and not enough about user rights. also, what's with the "conversion" thing? sounds like something from a law school exam 😂.
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around how Google managed to collect so much data without users even realizing it was happening 🤯. I mean, who doesn't think twice about sharing their location info or browsing history with a company? It's wild that these allegations have come to light and now we're hearing the tech giant is willing to pay out big bucks to settle them 💸. But, can we really trust that they've made these changes to obtain consent during setup? I'd want to see more than just a toggle on their end before I'm convinced 🤔. And what about all the other companies doing the same thing? Shouldn't this be a wake-up call for them too? 💡
 
OMG u guys i cant even 🤯 so google is literally settlin out 135 millon cuz they've been snoopin on android users without their consent lol what a total snooze fest! its about time tho, i mean who needs their data to be used 4 marketing purposes when u can have control over it? and lets be real, $100 for each user is LITERALLY not enough, google should just give us all some cash and call it a day 🤑
 
omg can you believe how some corps just abuse power 🤑... like google's got these fancy algorithms collecting everyone's data without even asking and they're basically saying it's all legit because we told them to in the setup process lol nope not buying it 😂 at least now users get a little somethin out of this settlement, $100 ain't bad 👍 wish more corps were like google tho who's willing to do what it takes for profits 🤑
 
just thinking about it...google's gotta step up its game 🤔. collecting user data without consent? that's just not right 💸. seems like they're finally taking responsibility for their actions, but you have to wonder how many other times this has happened and nobody said anything 🤷‍♂️. settlement is a good start, but what about the users who didn't stand up for themselves back then? anyway, at least now there's transparency and a way for people to opt out 👍
 
google's gotta get its act together 🤦‍♂️. collecting user data without consent is just not cool, and it's good they're taking responsibility for their actions 💯. but $135m is a pretty penny to settle one lawsuit... makes you wonder what other lawsuits are lurking in the shadows 🔍.
 
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