Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has reached a $1.375 billion settlement with tech giant Google, marking the largest amount ever recovered by a single state in a data privacy lawsuit. This historic agreement comes in response to allegations that Google unlawfully tracked and harvested sensitive user data, violating Texans’ rights.
Originally filed in 2022, the lawsuit accused Google of secretly collecting user information related to geolocation tracking, private “incognito” searches, and even biometric identifiers such as voiceprints and facial geometry. According to the complaint, these actions were carried out without proper consent or transparency, putting millions of users’ private data at risk.
General Ken Paxton emphasized that the settlement sends a powerful message to technology companies that operate in Texas. “In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law,” said Paxton. “For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won.”
Largest State-Led Recovery in a Privacy Case
The scale of this settlement far surpasses any similar resolution achieved by other states. For comparison, the highest settlement reached by any individual state before this was $93 million. A 40-state coalition managed to secure $391 million collectively—almost $1 billion less than what Texas accomplished independently. This extraordinary result highlights Paxton’s aggressive strategy in enforcing state privacy laws and defending the rights of Texans.
General Paxton’s office has led several notable enforcement actions targeting Big Tech’s misuse of personal data. In July, he secured a $1.4 billion settlement with a social media company over its unlawful use of facial recognition technology—the largest settlement ever achieved by a single state in a biometric data case. Previously, Texas had also reached $700 million and $8 million settlements with Google concerning anticompetitive conduct and deceptive trade practices, respectively.
Shaping the Future of Data Privacy and Big Tech Accountability
“This $1.375 billion settlement is a major win for Texans’ privacy and tells companies that they will pay for abusing our trust,” said Paxton. “I will always protect Texans by stopping Big Tech’s attempts to make a profit by selling away our rights and freedoms.”
The case may influence how other states pursue tech companies under their own state privacy laws, with growing momentum nationwide for better protections. Legal experts see this as a turning point that could inspire tighter enforcement and clearer legislation around data use.
General Ken Paxton extended his gratitude to Norton Rose Fulbright, which served as outside counsel for the Office of the Attorney General during the litigation. As concerns about digital surveillance and consumer privacy mount, this record-setting agreement marks a new era in the fight for these rights.
Source: Read More