Google has decided to settle a long-standing lawsuit that alleges the sale of search data. The case, first filed in 2010, claimed that Google stored and sold users’ search data to third-party companies. As part of the settlement, the company will pay a total of $23 million.
Google agrees to pay $23 million as a result of search data leaks
Google has reached a settlement in a data lawsuit that has been ongoing for approximately thirteen years. While Google did not admit to the accusation of selling search data, it stated that it would settle the case for $23 million to “protect the company’s reputation.” As a result, millions of people living in the United States will be eligible to receive compensation from the lawsuit.
According to the website created as a result of the lawsuit, users only need to have used Google Search to be eligible for payment from Google. Payments will be made in varying amounts to anyone who used Google Search between October 25, 2006, and September 30, 2013.
This situation only affects users residing in the United States, and the estimated amount that each user can receive is around $7.70. However, this amount can vary depending on the number of users who conducted searches over the network.
It is worth noting that this is not the first lawsuit Google has faced regarding data collection. In the past, the company has been accused of collecting location data without users’ permission and sharing personal data with third-party companies. It is also important to mention that the company has remained silent in response to such allegations.
This settlement marks an important step in the discussions surrounding user privacy and data protection in the digital age. Similar accusations have also been made in Europe.