Lawsuit Alleges Invasive Data Collection Practices
Google is once again under legal scrutiny—this time over its Web & App Activity tracking. A recent lawsuit filed in California alleges that Google has been collecting data even when users thought they had opted out. This raises serious concerns about user privacy and how much control individuals actually have over their personal information.
What Is Google’s Web & App Activity?
Web & App Activity is a setting within your Google account that records everything from your searches to your app usage. It even includes voice recordings from Google Assistant, locations visited, and more. Even when users pause this setting, the lawsuit claims Google continues tracking them, which has sparked outrage.
Details of the Lawsuit
The class-action lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims Google deceived users by stating that disabling “Web & App Activity” would stop tracking. Plaintiffs argue that Google misrepresented its privacy controls, collecting sensitive data from millions of users without their knowledge or consent. The complaint demands compensation and stronger restrictions on data collection practices.
How Google Responded
Google has pushed back on the claims, stating that users are clearly informed about what data is collected and have tools to manage it. According to a Google spokesperson, “We’ve built privacy controls into our services and provided transparency around how data is used.” However, the lawsuit suggests these controls may not be as effective or transparent as Google claims.
What This Means for Users
If you’re using Google products—whether Android, Chrome, or even YouTube—your data might be more exposed than you realize. You can check your own Web & App Activity settings by visiting the official Google Activity Controls. This page allows users to pause or delete activity and limit data collection, but the lawsuit indicates these settings might not function as expected.
Legal and Ethical Implications
The case touches on broader concerns about digital consent and corporate accountability. Can tech giants be trusted to manage data ethically when billions of dollars in ad revenue are at stake? Privacy advocates argue this case could set a major precedent, especially in terms of how data collection is disclosed to consumers.
How to Protect Yourself
To enhance your online privacy, consider taking the following steps:
- Visit Google’s Activity Controls and turn off Web & App Activity.
- Delete existing activity from your My Activity dashboard.
- Use private browsers like Firefox or Brave.
- Use search engines that don’t track you, such as DuckDuckGo.
- Regularly review permissions and connected apps in your Google account.
Why This Matters Now
With increasing reliance on online tools for everything from communication to shopping, users are constantly sharing personal data. This lawsuit shines a spotlight on how tech companies may be overreaching, collecting information beyond what users knowingly permit. If successful, this case could drive new regulatory efforts aimed at protecting digital privacy in the U.S. and beyond.
The Google Web & App Activity lawsuit is more than just a legal battle—it’s a wake-up call. As users, we must demand transparency and control over our own data. The outcome of this case could influence how privacy policies are written and enforced for years to come.