Texas Sues Google for 'Misleading' Pixel Ads

Texas sued Google for allegedly engaging in false, misleading and deceptive practices. In a Wednesday complaint at Texas District Court in Montgomery County, Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) claimed Google violated a Texas consumer protection law when it allegedly forced iHeartMedia DJs to record and broadcast firsthand testimonials for the then-unreleased Pixel 4, despite the DJs never having used the smartphone. Texas seeks a court order requiring Google to stop and pay monetary penalties. “This is not the first time I have had to address bad behavior by Big Tech companies,” said Paxton. Google “will review the complaint but the AG’s allegations appear to misrepresent what occurred here," a spokesperson emailed. "We take compliance with advertising laws seriously and have policies in place designed to help ensure we follow relevant regulations and industry standards.”