Google has reached an agreement to pay $1.375 billion to the State of Texas to settle two lawsuits that accused the company of unauthorized tracking of users’ personal location and collecting their biometric data without consent. This settlement amount significantly surpasses previous fines for similar allegations from other states, including a $391 million payment to a consortium of 40 states in November 2022 and a $93 million settlement with California in September 2023.

The lawsuits, initiated in 2022, focused on Google’s unlawful data tracking practices involving user geolocation and facial recognition. Allegations included the company’s tracking of users’ movements despite them disabling the Location History feature, alongside collecting biometric data without proper consent.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated, "For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services." He emphasized that the $1.375 billion settlement serves as a significant victory for Texans’ privacy and sends a message to corporations about the consequences of such breaches of trust.

In response to these issues, Google announced plans to store Maps Timeline data locally on users’ devices instead of keeping it in their Google accounts. Additionally, the tech giant has introduced privacy controls that allow users to automatically delete location information when their Location History setting is activated.

This settlement amount also matches the $1.4 billion fine imposed on Meta for similar allegations regarding the unauthorized collection of biometric data from users. The agreement arrives during a time of heightened regulatory scrutiny on Google, with increasing calls for the company to restructure parts of its business to address antitrust concerns.

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