Google to pay Texas $1.4 billion over data privacy suit

Published: Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 3:57 am

Google to Pay Texas $1.375 Billion in Data Privacy Settlement

Google is set to pay the state of Texas a staggering $1.375 billion to settle a data privacy lawsuit, according to a statement released Friday by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The settlement resolves two lawsuits accusing the tech giant of violating data privacy and security laws.

The lawsuits, filed in 2022, alleged that Google unlawfully tracked and collected users' private data, including geolocation, incognito search activity, and biometric data. While the settlement is a significant financial hit, it does not constitute an admission of guilt by Google. A Google spokesperson has not yet commented on the matter.

This settlement comes amidst a series of legal challenges for Google's parent company, Alphabet. The company is also grappling with a government effort to break up its business due to antitrust concerns. Last August, Google lost a landmark antitrust case, and is currently battling the Department of Justice (DOJ) over its search engine monopoly. The DOJ is seeking to force Google to divest its Chrome web browser.

Adding to the company's woes, an Apple executive testified that search volume on Apple's Safari browser, which uses Google Search as the default engine, fell for the first time in over 20 years, partly due to AI. This news caused Alphabet's stock to plummet. Google responded by stating it continues to enhance Search with new features, and that overall search queries have grown.

Furthermore, a federal judge in Virginia ruled that Google holds an illegal monopoly on advertising technology, a decision the company plans to appeal. This settlement with Texas, coupled with ongoing antitrust battles and market shifts, highlights the growing scrutiny and legal pressures facing Google.

Keywords: Google, Texas, data privacy, settlement, lawsuit, Ken Paxton, geolocation, incognito searches, biometric data, antitrust, Alphabet, Department of Justice, Chrome, Safari, search volume, advertising technology, monopoly

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