Google Faces $314 Million Fine for Unauthorised Data Collection and Mobile Data Usage in California
Privacy is something that concerns all of us today, and that’s why tech giants are under more scrutiny than ever. Google, one of the biggest players in the digital world, has just received a major blow: a California court has imposed a fine of approximately $314 million due to how it handled personal data from Android users.
What Happened and Google’s Response
The story dates back to 2019 when nearly 14 million Android users in California came together to sue Google. The complaint was clear: the company was collecting data from their Android phones without them truly knowing or giving explicit consent. And it wasn’t just when users were using their phones—it happened even when the device was off or idle, working in the background without their notice.
This raised serious privacy concerns, because all of this was happening without users having any clarity about what was going on. To make matters worse, this data was being used to create personalized ads, which users found unacceptable. Now, the court has sided with the users.
Data Collection Consumed Mobile Data
Furthermore, it was discovered that this data collection also used up part of users’ mobile data plans, without them knowing or being able to stop it. So, in addition to a privacy violation, it could mean an extra charge on their phone bills. A serious problem indeed.
Google was quick to respond. Their spokesperson, Jose Castaneda, argued that the jury misunderstood the situation and that these functions are necessary for Android to operate securely and efficiently.
They also defended that by agreeing to the terms and conditions, users were giving permission for data collection and that no direct harm was done to the users.
For now, Google has not appealed, and the fine won’t be enforced until the entire legal process concludes. However, it is clear that today, people do not want companies to do such things secretly or without clearly explaining what happens with their data.
