Google Deceived Users About Location Tracking, States Allege

In fact, the suit alleges, Google still tracks people’s movements using information from its search engine, Maps app, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth services.

“In reality, regardless of the settings they select, consumers who use Google products have no option but to allow the Company to collect, store, and use their location,” the suit states. “Simply put, even when a user’s mobile device is set to deny Google access to location data, the Company finds a way to continue to ascertain the user’s location.”

Similar suits were being filed in Indiana, Texas and Washington state courts, according to state attorneys general there.

Google disputed the allegations.

“The attorneys general are bringing a case based on inaccurate claims and outdated assertions about our settings,” said Google spokesman José Castañeda. “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.”

Mr. Castañeda said Google has made changes in recent years to enhance privacy, such as making location settings easier to access and estimating a person’s general location when they search as opposed to a precise location.

The Washington, D.C., suit seeks fines against Google as well as disgorgement of data obtained from any unlawful conduct and “any algorithms developed in using such data.”

To back up its claims, the suit cites internal company documents, including one in which a Google employee allegedly says that the user interface for Google Account Settings “feels like it is designed to make things possible, yet difficult enough that people won’t figure it out.”

Google is separately fighting three U.S. antitrust lawsuits, two from groups of states and one from the Justice Department, alleging anticompetitive conduct related to its advertising and search businesses. The company has denied the allegations in those suits and recently moved to dismiss the suit from Texas and other states targeting its digital advertising practices.

Arizona’s attorney general in May 2020 sued the company in state court for allegations related to location tracking that are similar to the suits announced Monday. The case is pending.

The suits related to location tracking prominently cite a 2018 Associated Press article that reported Google’s practices were inconsistent with its statements to users.

U.S. consumer-protection laws generally make it illegal for companies to engage in unfair or deceptive acts or practices.

Write to Ryan Tracy at [email protected]