Google has agreed to pay $23 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that the company shared users’ search data with third-party websites and companies without their consent. The settlement is a drop in the bucket for Google, which generates nearly $280 billion annually, most of it from advertising.
The lawsuit was filed in 2013, and it alleged that Google had been sharing users’ search terms with third parties since 2006. The plaintiffs argued that this violated users’ privacy, as they had not given Google permission to share their data.
Google has denied the allegations, but it agreed to the settlement to avoid the risk of a lengthy and costly legal battle. The settlement is expected to be finalized in the coming months.
Why Google needs to Pay?
In 2013, two Google users, William Halprin and Richard Wu, filed a lawsuit against the company alleging that Google had been sharing users’ search data with third-party websites and companies without their consent. The plaintiffs argued that this violated users’ privacy, as they had not given Google permission to share their data. They also argued that Google had misled users about its privacy practices.
Google denied the allegations, but it agreed to settle the lawsuit in 2023 for $23 million. The settlement is expected to be finalized in the coming months. Once it is finalized, eligible users will be able to file claims for a portion of the settlement fund.
The settlement does not require Google to admit any wrongdoing, but it does require the company to change its privacy practices. Google will now be required to obtain users’ consent before sharing their search data with third parties.
The settlement is a victory for privacy advocates, who have long argued that Google’s privacy practices are too opaque. It is also a reminder that even the biggest tech companies are not immune to legal challenges.
However, it is important to note that the settlement does not address all of the concerns that have been raised about Google’s privacy practices. For example, the settlement does not require Google to stop collecting users’ search data, and it does not require Google to be more transparent about how it uses that data.
It is also worth noting that the settlement is only a fraction of the amount of money that Google generates from advertising each year. As a result, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on Google’s business practices.
Despite these limitations, the settlement is a positive step towards protecting user privacy. It is a reminder that even the biggest tech companies are not immune to legal challenges, and that they can be held accountable for their privacy practices.
Settlement Benefits
The settlement benefits include a $23 million fund to be distributed to eligible users, changes to Google’s privacy practices, and a public education campaign about online privacy.
The amount of each individual payment will depend on the number of eligible users who file claims. The settlement fund will be distributed to eligible users on a pro rata basis, meaning that each user will receive a payment that is proportional to the number of searches they made that were shared with third parties. The deadline to file a claim is July 31, 2023. After this date, no further claims will be accepted. To file a claim, you will need to provide your name, email address, and Google account ID. You can also provide additional information, such as the dates and times of the searches that were shared with third parties. The settlement website has more information about the settlement benefits and how to file a claim.
The amount of money that each settlement class member is expected to receive is not much – only about $7.70
Google will now be required to obtain users’ consent before sharing their search data with third parties. This is a significant change to Google’s privacy practices, and it is a victory for privacy advocates. Google will also be required to create a public education campaign to raise awareness about online privacy. This is another positive step towards protecting user privacy.
The settlement is a positive step towards protecting user privacy, but it is important to note that it does not address all of the concerns that have been raised about Google’s privacy practices. For example, the settlement does not require Google to stop collecting users’ search data, and it does not require Google to be more transparent about how it uses that data.
It is also worth noting that the settlement is only a fraction of the amount of money that Google generates from advertising each year. As a result, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on Google’s business practices.
Despite these limitations, the settlement is a positive step towards protecting user privacy. It is a reminder that even the biggest tech companies are not immune to legal challenges, and that they can be held accountable for their privacy practices.
Requirements to File a Claim
Requirements to file a claim in the Google search data settlement are
- You must be a US resident.
- You must have used Google Search between October 26, 2006, and September 30, 2013.
- You must have clicked on a search result link during that time period.
- You must have used Google Search directly.
- You must have been a US resident at the time you used Google Search.
If you meet all of these requirements, you can file a claim by visiting the settlement website. The deadline to file a claim is July 31, 2023.
Claim Form -> Click Here!
How to Claim it?
To submit a claim in the Google search data settlement, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the settlement website.
- Click on the “Submit a Claim” button.
- Create an account or log in to your existing account.
- Provide your contact information, including your name, email address, and Google account ID.
- Answer the eligibility questions.
- Provide additional information, such as the dates and times of the searches that were shared with third parties.
- Review your claim and submit it.
The deadline to file a claim is July 31, 2023. After this date, no further claims will be accepted.