California’s Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Google because they tricked people about how they use your location information. Google agreed to pay $93 million and make changes to protect people in California.
Google said you could control how they use your location to show you ads, but it was not easy. They told you that you could “enhance” Google Maps, but if you agreed, they used your location for more than just maps.
Even if you turned off Location History, Google still kept track of where you went in a different way called “Web and App Activity.”
And if you thought you could avoid this by saying you do not want personalized ads when you sign up, that we not work either. Google still used your location for ads.
In California, there are rules against doing this. So, Google has to make some changes:
- They need to give you more information when you change location settings.
- They have to be clearer about how they track your location.
- Google must tell you exactly what location data they collect and how they use it on a special web page.
- They have to tell you that your location info might be used for personalized ads.
- Google must ask for permission before using your Location History for ads.
- They need approval for any big changes related to privacy from their Privacy Working Group.
This settlement helps protect people’s privacy in California and holds Google accountable for their actions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article highlights California’s significant actions against Google, impressive a $93 million fine for deceptive practices related to location data choices. Google had misled users by making it appear that they had control over their location information, but in reality, it was challenging to opt out of location-based tracking and personalized ads.
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