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On Monday, November 14, the Oregon Department of Justice issued a statement and posted it on its website. It says Google has settled to pay $391.5 million to 40 US States to resolve a clash over location tracking. The statement said the search giant misguided its users into assuring they had disabled location tracking in their account settings.

However, it was a time when Google was admitted to constantly collecting users’ location information. Google also approved eventually enhancing its location tracking exposures and user controls. The tech giant will start its operations in 2023 as part of the settlement. The company collects users’ personal and behavioral data using location tracking and other specific methods.

Meanwhile, it is a practice to create a significant user profile that allows Google to minister fruitful targeted ads. Keep in mind that a 2018 Associated Press article prompted the investigation and it brought about this week’s settlement. The AP article indicated that Google secretly records users’ movements even when the company confirms not recording without permission.

Google Maps and Search Used for Location Tracking

Moreover, the article claimed that the issue affected at least 2 billion devices across all the US States. Google’s Android mobile operating system and a plethora of iPhone devices were impacted by the issue. All affected devices were using Google Maps or the Search site of the company. The investigators examined the Location History and Web & App Activity settings of Google.

The investigation discovered that Location History was turned off by default and a user needs to activate it manually. However, the Web & App Activity was automatically turned on when a user created a Google account. The State’s led investigation alleged Google over breaking state consumer protection laws since 2014. The tech giant was also found misguiding its users regarding its location tracking system.

Google will Inform Users about Location Tracking Status

Oregon’s DOJ said Google bushed its users regarding the level to which they limit location tracking of Google. However, users can also adjust their account and device settings to prevent Google from location tracking. The settlement also needs Google makes clear its privacy practices, beyond the payout. For instance, Google must inform its users when they turn on or off their location-related settings.

Google must provide detailed information to its users about the type of location date the company is pulling in. The information must include how it’s used and clearly provide specific details on the “Location Technologies” webpage. Moreover, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said Google has emphasized profit over their user’s privacy for years.

The Tech Giant Secretly & Continuously Recorded User’s Movements

Rosenblum said Google users thought their location-tracking features are turned off. But the tech giant was constantly and secretly recording their movements and using their information to facilitate advertisers. He added that states have significant privacy laws. However, companies are constantly collecting a massive amount of users’ personal data for marketing purposes with some restrictions.

Meanwhile, app developers are now getting relief from Google tax in one of the major markets for Android. Last week, Google was charged around $113 million in India over imposing its in-house billing system on Android app developers. The tech giant has now prepared the most debatable directive. The company eliminated the compulsory Google Play billion policy in India for in-app purchases.