4 AGs Sue Google, Alleging ‘Misleading’ Location Tracking

Google deceived and manipulated consumers while tracking their location data and made it “nearly impossible” to opt out, four attorneys general alleged in separate lawsuits Monday. Despite assurances users could opt out, there's “effectively no way for consumers to prevent Google from collecting, storing, and profiting from their location data,” alleged Washington, D.C., AG Karl Racine. His complaint detailed behavior dating back to at least 2014, including reliance on "dark patterns," or manipulative tactics. AGs in Texas, Washington and Indiana sued in their states. Google tells users they can turn off location history, but the company “continues to track users’ location through other settings and methods that it fails to adequately disclose,” said the office of Texas AG Ken Paxton (R). Google has “prioritized profits over people,” said Indiana's Todd Rokita (R). Washington state's Bob Ferguson (D) cited “hard-to-find location settings, misleading descriptions of location settings, repeated nudging to enable location settings and incomplete disclosures of Google’s location data collection.” The cases are “based on inaccurate claims and outdated assertions about our settings,” a Google spokesperson emailed. “We have always built privacy features into our products and provided robust controls for location data. We will vigorously defend ourselves and set the record straight.”