Find Out If You Are Eligible
If you feel that Google may have infringed on your privacy while using Incognito Mode, you can take our online quiz to see if you qualify to file a lawsuit.
Google has established itself as a leading force in digital services, with its suite of products ranging from search engines and advertising platforms to cloud storage, smart assistants, and artificial intelligence (AI).
However, despite its innovations, the company has faced numerous lawsuits over the years. These have brought significant scrutiny to its practices, from privacy violations to monopolistic behavior. In this article, we’ll explore some of the Google lawsuit settlements that captured headlines.
Incognito Mode Lawsuit Settlement
One of the most significant and ongoing controversies surrounding Google is its handling of privacy concerns, particularly regarding Incognito mode. Introduced as a private browsing feature, Incognito mode promised users private browsing sessions. However, in recent years, Google has been embroiled in a class action lawsuit accusing the company of tracking users in Incognito mode.
The lawsuit claims that Google collects data on users’ browsing behavior, contradicting the privacy that Incognito mode suggests. This activity has raised serious concerns about user trust and the extent of data tracking. Google has defended itself, stating that Incognito mode only prevents data from being stored on the device and that users are informed that their activity may still be visible to websites and third parties.
The Google Incognito lawsuit highlights a broader issue: the company’s data collection policies, which have been at the center of numerous privacy debates. The outcome of this legal battle could have implications for Google’s approach to privacy and user data, especially as global awareness of digital privacy grows.
The settlement stipulates that Google must delete billions of users’ data. This Google lawsuit settlement did not award damages, but individuals retain their right to file their own lawsuits for Google’s privacy violations.
Take the quiz to see if you qualify to file an Incognito mode lawsuit.
Google Play Store Settlement
Google has been criticized for requiring consumers to use its in-app payment system and stifling competition from other app stores on its Android operating system.
Google also came under fire for its fee structure. Much like Apple, Google takes a 30% commission on sales made through the Play Store. This fee has been criticized by app developers, particularly smaller companies, who argue that the commission is excessive and anti-competitive.
In December 2023, Google agreed to a settlement of $700 million to compensate consumers who made purchases between August 2016 and September 2023. Of that $700 million, $630 million will go to compensate consumers and $70 million will go to the states.
Google will also loosen its grip on app payments and distribution as part of the settlement. Google committed to allow developers to offer alternative payment options that don’t go through the Play Store and to make it easier for users to download apps from outlets other than its Play Store.
Google Search Engine Ruled a Monopoly
Google’s dominance in various sectors, including search engines, online advertising, and mobile platforms, has made it a target for antitrust scrutiny worldwide. Regulators in the United States and Europe have accused Google of engaging in monopolistic practices that stifle competition.
In 2017, the European Commission fined Google €2.42 billion for abusing its dominance as a search engine to promote its own shopping comparison service over competitors. In 2018, Google was again fined €4.34 billion for using its Android mobile operating system to suppress competition and strengthen its search engine monopoly. And now In August of 2024, a District of Columbia district court judge has ruled that Google is operating as a monopoly. The resolution for this ruling is scheduled for August 2025.
The company’s control over search engines, advertising, and mobile applications has raised concerns about whether smaller competitors can survive in an ecosystem largely shaped by Google.
Additional Controversies for Google
Over the years, Google has faced many controversies and scandals, from antitrust lawsuits and privacy violations to ethical concerns about AI. The current Google Incognito lawsuits and the Google lawsuit settlements reached so far reflect a broader pattern of concerns about data privacy, monopolistic practices, and corporate responsibility:
- Google Assistant: Presently still an ongoing lawsuit, Google claims that the Assistant only records interactions when prompted with “OK, Google” or a similar command. However, there have been numerous instances where these devices have accidentally recorded conversations without consent.
- Google Gemini: The AI tool from Google is still facing a copyright infringement lawsuit, and the Gemini image generating tool has faced security for creating inappropriate images.
While Google has tried to address these issues, the company’s immense power and influence mean that it will likely continue to face scrutiny for its practices. As digital privacy and ethical AI become increasingly important in the modern world, Google’s actions will remain under the microscope of regulators, competitors, and users alike.
