The Attorneys General of 40 states, including Idaho, have reached a nearly $392 million settlement with Google over its location tracking practices relating to Google Account settings.
It is the largest multi-state attorney general privacy settlement in United States history. Idaho will receive $4.9 million from the settlement. According to Idaho Code, the money will be deposited into the state’s Consumer Protection Fund.
Scott Graf with the Idaho Attorney General’s Office says location data is a key part of Google’s digital advertising business.
The attorneys general opened an investigation following publication of an Associated Press article that discussed two Google account settings: Location History and Web & App Activity. Location History is “off” unless a user turns on the setting. But Web & App Activity, a separate account setting, is automatically “on” when users—including all Android users—set up a Google account. Additionally, the AG’s say Google misrepresented the extent that consumers could limit Google’s location tracking by adjusting their account and device settings.
Earlier this year, Washington State, Indiana, Texas, and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit accusing Google of deceiving users over its location-tracking practices. Last month, Arizona filed a similar case and settled it for $85 million.
