Google fails to end $5 billion consumer privacy lawsuit
1 year, 4 months ago

Google fails to end $5 billion consumer privacy lawsuit

The Hindu  

August 09, 2023 10:24 am | Updated 10:24 am IST A U.S. judge rejected Google's bid to dismiss a lawsuit claiming it invaded the privacy of millions of people by secretly tracking their internet use. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on Monday said she could not find that users consented to letting Google collect information about what they viewed online because the Alphabet unit never explicitly told them it would. The plaintiffs alleged that Google's analytics, cookies and apps let the Mountain View, California-based company track their activity even when they set Google's Chrome browser to "Incognito" mode and other browsers to "private" browsing mode. They said this let Google learn enough about their friends, hobbies, favorite foods, shopping habits, and "potentially embarrassing things" they seek out online, becoming "an unaccountable trove of information so detailed and expansive that George Orwell could never have dreamed it." "Taken as a whole, a triable issue exists as to whether these writings created an enforceable promise that Google would not collect users' data while they browsed privately," Rogers wrote.

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History of this topic

Bad news for Apple and Google: UK initiates investigation into mobile browser dominance | Full story
Trending News
1 month ago

Bad news for Apple and Google: UK initiates investigation into mobile browser dominance | Full story

India TV News  

London: Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said on Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new UK digital rules taking effect next year. Apple and Google manipulate the choices: Report The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile …

Why the US forced sale of Google's Chrome faces legal hurdles
Trending News
1 month ago

Why the US forced sale of Google's Chrome faces legal hurdles

India TV News  

Efforts by U.S. antitrust regulators to break up Alphabet by forcing a sale of its Google Chrome browser and other proposals to limit its search dominance are likely to run into legal challenges on grounds the remedies are extreme. Google called the DOJ's approach "unprecedented government overreach that would harm American consumers, developers, and small businesses," giving as examples diminished …

U.S. govt calls for breakup of Google and Chrome
Trending News
1 month ago

U.S. govt calls for breakup of Google and Chrome

Raw Story  

The U.S. government late Wednesday asked a judge to order the dismantling of Google by selling its widely used Chrome browser in a major antitrust crackdown on the internet giant. In a court filing, the U.S. Department of Justice urged a shake-up of Google's business that includes banning deals for Google to be the default search engine on smartphones and …

US govt calls for breakup of Google and Chrome
Trending News
1 month ago

US govt calls for breakup of Google and Chrome

Deccan Chronicle  

Washington: The US government late Wednesday asked a judge to order the dismantling of Google by selling its widely used Chrome browser in a major antitrust crackdown on the internet giant. In a court filing, the US Department of Justice urged a shake-up of Google's business that includes banning deals for Google to be the default search engine on smartphones …

‘Off the record’ chats, messages copied to lawyer: How Google guided employees to dodge antitrust suits for 15 years
Trending News
1 month ago

‘Off the record’ chats, messages copied to lawyer: How Google guided employees to dodge antitrust suits for 15 years

Live Mint  

Google's battle against anti-trust suits: In 2008, Google faced increasing antitrust scrutiny over an advertising deal with its rival Yahoo, alongside lawsuits involving patent, trademark, and copyright issues. Google’s Move to Minimise Incriminating Comments from Employees The confidential memo sent out by Google executives revealed the company’s concerns about potential legal challenges. Google's 15-Year Culture of Deletion of Internal Communication …

Google Break-Up: US Regulator Could Force Search Giant To Sell Off Chrome, Stop Android Favour
1 month ago

Google Break-Up: US Regulator Could Force Search Giant To Sell Off Chrome, Stop Android Favour

ABP News  

US regulators are ramping up efforts to dismantle Google’s monopoly power, proposing a breakup of the tech giant that could see its Chrome web browser sold off and its Android software stripped of preferential treatment for its search engine. These include halting multibillion-dollar agreements that make Google the default search engine on devices like Apple’s iPhone and requiring Google to …

Apple urges judge to end U.S. smartphone monopoly case
1 month ago

Apple urges judge to end U.S. smartphone monopoly case

The Hindu  

Apple asked a federal judge on Wednesday to dismiss the U.S. Department of Justice's case accusing the iPhone maker of unlawfully dominating the smartphone market, in the latest Big Tech antitrust showdown. U.S. District Judge Julien Neals in Newark, New Jersey, heard arguments from lawyers for Apple who said the government's case should be dismissed on multiple grounds and asked …

Google must sell Chrome to end search monopoly, US prosecutors argue
1 month ago

Google must sell Chrome to end search monopoly, US prosecutors argue

Al Jazeera  

The Department of Justice said Google had ‘deprived rivals’ of opportunities to expand their search engine market share. In a court filing on Wednesday, the US Department of Justice argued that Google, which controls about 90 percent of the online search market, should not be allowed to re-enter the browser market for five years and should sell its Android mobile …

US Justice Department asks judge to force Google to sell Chrome internet browser
1 month ago

US Justice Department asks judge to force Google to sell Chrome internet browser

ABC  

The US Department of Justice has asked a judge to force Alphabet's Google to sell off its Chrome internet browser to restore competition in the online search market it dominates. Prosecutors argued to the judge, who ruled in August that Google illegally monopolised the search market, that it should take a broad range of other corrective actions, including sharing data …

‘A frontal assault on…’ — tech giant accused of systematic evidence suppression, says report
1 month ago

‘A frontal assault on…’ — tech giant accused of systematic evidence suppression, says report

Live Mint  

Over the past year, Google has faced intense criticism for its internal communications practices during three major antitrust trials. Signed by Google’s top lawyer, Kent Walker, and engineering executive Bill Coughran, the memo also announced changes to the company’s instant messaging settings, ensuring chats were automatically deleted unless users manually saved them, adds the report. Further allegations surfaced regarding Google’s …

Google asked employees to destroy evidence for years in bid to avoid antitrust scrutiny: Report
1 month ago

Google asked employees to destroy evidence for years in bid to avoid antitrust scrutiny: Report

Hindustan Times  

Search engine giant Google adopted various strategies over 15 years to avoid legal scrutiny over anti-trust issues, a New York Times report has claimed. Phrases like “putting products in the hands of new customers” was also asked to be avoided as regulators might interpret the term to accuse the company of denying consumers a “choice”, the NYT report added. According …

The Justice Department is trying to make Google sell off its Chrome browser
1 month ago

The Justice Department is trying to make Google sell off its Chrome browser

NPR  

The Justice Department is trying to make Google sell off its Chrome browser toggle caption Matt Slocum/AP The Justice Department wants Google to put its Chrome browser on the auction block. "The playing field is not level because of Google's conduct, and Google's quality reflects the ill-gotten gains of an advantage illegally acquired," the Justice Department wrote in a proposed …

Google's AI-Fueled Profits Continue Despite Regulatory Threats
Trending News
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Google's AI-Fueled Profits Continue Despite Regulatory Threats

Associated Press  

Google's financial performance remains strong despite challenges from AI and regulatory scrutiny. The company's profits and revenue increased due to its moneymaking machine powered by its search engine, but this is primarily attributed to the AI investments. The company is facing legal challenges from the US Department of Justice and Virginia state authorities regarding its search engine and digital advertising …

US mulls Google break-up after landmark monopoly case
2 months, 2 weeks ago

US mulls Google break-up after landmark monopoly case

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Google currently processes 90 per cent of internet searches in the US, which led to a landmark …

Sundar Pichai says antitrust trials may drag for years: ‘Really harms Google…'
2 months, 4 weeks ago

Sundar Pichai says antitrust trials may drag for years: ‘Really harms Google…'

Hindustan Times  

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said it will take many years to resolve Google’s antitrust battles, implying that they do not pose an immediate threat to the company’s business. Where we think it really harms our ability to innovate on behalf of our users, we are going to be vigorous in defending ourselves.” Sundar Pichai indicated that Google's antitrust battles will …

Google begins its defense in antitrust case alleging monopoly over advertising technology
3 months ago

Google begins its defense in antitrust case alleging monopoly over advertising technology

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Google opened its defense against …

Google and Apple lose their court fights against the EU and owe billions in fines and taxes
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Google and Apple lose their court fights against the EU and owe billions in fines and taxes

The Hindu  

Google lost its last bid to overturn a European Union antitrust penalty, after the bloc's top court ruled against it Tuesday in a case that came with a whopping fine and helped jumpstart an era of intensifying scrutiny for Big Tech companies. The European Union’s top court rejected Google's appeal against the 2.4 billion euro penalty from the European Commission, …

Google and Apple lose their court fights against the EU and owe billions in fines and taxes
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Google and Apple lose their court fights against the EU and owe billions in fines and taxes

LA Times  

In this photo from 2007, exhibitors work on laptop computers in front of an illuminated sign of the Google logo at the industrial fair Hannover Messe in Hanover, Germany. Google lost its last bid to overturn a European Union antitrust penalty after the bloc’s top court ruled against it Tuesday in a case that came with a whopping fine and …

Google is back in court — this time over its digital advertising technology
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Google is back in court — this time over its digital advertising technology

NPR  

Google is back in court — this time over its digital advertising technology The Department of Justice says Google is monopolizing digital advertising technology, which website publishers depend on to buy and sell ads. A lawsuit accuses Google of monopolizing digital advertising, technology that website publishers depend on to buy and sell ads. A win for the Justice Department would …

US takes on Google in blockbuster antitrust trial to determine if tech firm holds unfair monopoly in online advertising
3 months, 2 weeks ago

US takes on Google in blockbuster antitrust trial to determine if tech firm holds unfair monopoly in online advertising

Daily Mail  

Google is back in court to answer accusations that it has cultivated an illegal monopoly on the lucrative digital ad market, marking the second attempt by the US government to possibly break up one of the most profitable companies in the world. The new antitrust case is being brought in the Eastern District of Virginia by the US Department of …

Yelp versus Google: An antitrust court fight plays out in San Francisco
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Yelp versus Google: An antitrust court fight plays out in San Francisco

LA Times  

For years, Yelp has complained about Google’s practices, alleging that the tech giant placed its own products above competitors in Google search results. “Google’s conduct has injured Yelp through lower traffic, reduced advertising revenues, raising Yelp’s own costs, and impaired network effects that come with fewer new and returning users,” Yelp said in its lawsuit. It comes weeks after a …

U.S. appeals court revives Google privacy class action over Chrome data collection
4 months ago

U.S. appeals court revives Google privacy class action over Chrome data collection

The Hindu  

A U.S. appeals court said Google must face a revived lawsuit by Google Chrome users who said the company collected their personal information without permission, after they chose not to synchronise their browsers with their Google accounts. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the lower court judge who dismissed the proposed class action should have assessed whether reasonable …

US Justice dept considering to curb Google's power following antitrust ruling to address…
4 months, 1 week ago

US Justice dept considering to curb Google's power following antitrust ruling to address…

Hindustan Times  

Google was recently found to have violated antitrust laws by unlawfully maintaining a monopoly in internet search, and now, the focus has shifted to determining how to rectify these violations. Justice Department and state attorneys consider significant measures to limit Google's dominance after antitrust ruling. Other potential solutions being considered involve requiring Google to share its data with competitors or …

Google Has Acted As A Monopoly, Violated Competition Illegally: US Judge Says About Company's Practices
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Google Has Acted As A Monopoly, Violated Competition Illegally: US Judge Says About Company's Practices

News 18  

Google has once again made the headlines regarding its search monopoly in the market and how it has been able to pump billions into the segment illegally and push competition way behind. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on Monday ruled that Google had violated antitrust law by spending billions of dollars to secure exclusive agreements with developers, carriers and equipment …

Google has illegal monopoly over internet search, US judge rules
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Google has illegal monopoly over internet search, US judge rules

Al Jazeera  

The case depicted Google as a technological bully that methodically thwarted competition to protect its search engine. Google’s search engine processes an estimated 8.5 billion queries every day worldwide, nearly double its daily volume from 12 years ago, according to a recent study by investment firm BOND. Google’s global affairs president, Kent Walker, said the company would appeal the ruling, …

US judge rules Google has a monopoly on search in antitrust case
4 months, 2 weeks ago

US judge rules Google has a monopoly on search in antitrust case

ABC  

Google broke the law with its monopoly over online searches and related ads, a federal judge has ruled, marking the US Department of Justice's first victory against a monopoly in over 20 years. Judge Mehta's ruling against Alphabet's major revenue driver paves the way for a second trial to determine potential fixes, such as requiring the company to stop paying …

Google loses major antitrust case over search, declared a monopoly by judge
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Google loses major antitrust case over search, declared a monopoly by judge

LA Times  

In a major blow to Google, a federal judge on Monday ruled that the tech giant violated antitrust laws by illegally maintaining a monopoly on web searches. “As this process continues, we will remain focused on making products that people find helpful and easy to use.” Regulators alleged that Google maintained a monopoly on web searches by reaching agreements with …

Google abused its power to maintain monopoly on search, US court rules
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Google abused its power to maintain monopoly on search, US court rules

The Telegraph  

Google abused its power to maintain an illegal monopoly over the online search market, a US judge has ruled. Kent Walker, president of Google global affairs, said the company planned to appeal and said: “This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine, but concludes that we shouldn’t be allowed to make it easily available.” The case was bought …

Google loses bid to end US antitrust case over digital advertising
6 months, 1 week ago

Google loses bid to end US antitrust case over digital advertising

Live Mint  

By Jody Godoy - Alphabet's Google must face trial on U.S. antitrust enforcers' claim that the internet search juggernaut illegally dominates the online advertising technology market, a federal judge ruled on Friday. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, denied Google's motion during a hearing, according to court records. Google had argued for a win without a trial, saying …

Judge rather than jury will render verdict in upcoming antitrust trial
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Judge rather than jury will render verdict in upcoming antitrust trial

Associated Press  

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A judge rather than a jury will decide whether Google violated federal antitrust laws by building a monopoly on the technology that powers online advertising. The decision Friday by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema was a defeat for the Justice Department, which sought a jury trial when it filed the case last year in federal court in …

Google seeks non-jury trial in US ad tech lawsuit, filing says
7 months, 1 week ago

Google seeks non-jury trial in US ad tech lawsuit, filing says

The Hindu  

Alphabet's Google in a court filing on Thursday is seeking a non-jury trial in the U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit accusing the advertising and search giant of anticompetitive practices in the online advertising marketplace. Google said the Justice Department's request for a jury trial breaks "with all historical precedent" and noted the department itself has said the technical nature might be …

Google wants judge, not jury, to decide upcoming antitrust case in Virginia
7 months, 1 week ago

Google wants judge, not jury, to decide upcoming antitrust case in Virginia

Associated Press  

Google on Thursday asked that a judge, rather than a jury, decide whether it violated U.S. antitrust laws by building a monopoly on the technology that powers online advertising. The company argues in court papers filed Thursday that it’s unprecedented for a jury to decide a federal antitrust case brought by the government. The right to a jury trial, based …

Google fights $17 billion UK lawsuit over adtech practices
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Google fights $17 billion UK lawsuit over adtech practices

The Hindu  

Google parent Alphabet has urged a London tribunal to block a mass lawsuit which accuses it of abusing its dominance in the online advertising market, in the latest case to focus on the search giant's business practices. The lawsuit seeks damages of up to 13.6 billion pounds on behalf of publishers of websites and apps based in the United Kingdom, …

Google settles lawsuit to delete incognito search data of millions of Chrome users
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Google settles lawsuit to delete incognito search data of millions of Chrome users

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Google has agreed to delete the incognito search data of millions of its …

Google Ready to Delete Secret Chrome Browsing Data Of Billions Of Users: Know More
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Google Ready to Delete Secret Chrome Browsing Data Of Billions Of Users: Know More

News 18  

– Google agreed to destroy billions of data records to settle a lawsuit claiming it secretly tracked the internet use of people who thought they were browsing privately. The class action began in 2020, covering millions of Google users who used private browsing since June 1, 2016. Users alleged that Google's analytics, cookies and apps let the Alphabet unit improperly …

Google will purge billions of files containing personal data in settlement of Chrome privacy case
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Google will purge billions of files containing personal data in settlement of Chrome privacy case

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — Google has agreed to purge billions of records containing personal information collected from more than 136 million people in the U.S. surfing the internet through its Chrome web browser. The settlement requires Google to expunge billions of personal records stored in its data centers and make more prominent privacy disclosures about Chrome’s Incognito option when it is …

Google hit with $2.3 billion lawsuit by Axel Springer, other media groups
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Google hit with $2.3 billion lawsuit by Axel Springer, other media groups

Hindustan Times  

Alphabet's Google was hit with a 2.1-billion-euro lawsuit by 32 media groups including Axel Springer and Schibsted on Wednesday, alleging that they had suffered losses due to the company's practices in digital advertising. "The media companies involved have incurred losses due to a less competitive market, which is a direct result of Google's misconduct," a statement issued by their lawyers …

Google to settle $5 billion lawsuit for tracking user data in 'Incognito mode'
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Google to settle $5 billion lawsuit for tracking user data in 'Incognito mode'

Op India  

Google has agreed to pay at least $5 billion to resolve a consumer privacy lawsuit alleging that it tracked the data of users who thought they were browsing the internet privately in Incognito mode. The $5 billion lawsuit was filed in 2020 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and covered “millions” of Google consumers, …

Google settles $5 billion privacy lawsuit over tracking people using ‘incognito mode’
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Google settles $5 billion privacy lawsuit over tracking people using ‘incognito mode’

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — Google has agreed to settle a $5 billion privacy lawsuit alleging that it spied on people who used the “incognito” mode in its Chrome browser — along with similar “private” modes in other browsers — to track their internet use. The class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 said Google misled users into believing that it wouldn’t track their …

Google settles $5 billion privacy lawsuit over tracking people using 'incognito mode'
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Google settles $5 billion privacy lawsuit over tracking people using 'incognito mode'

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Google has agreed to settle …

Google CEO Sundar Pichai returns to court to defend internet company for second time in two weeks
1 year, 1 month ago

Google CEO Sundar Pichai returns to court to defend internet company for second time in two weeks

Associated Press  

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Tuesday was summoned to federal court for the second time in two weeks to testify in an antitrust trial threatening to topple a pillar of an internet empire that he helped build. A key part of Google’s defense against that allegations that its Play Store is running an illegal monopoly on Android apps hinges on …

Google gives Apple 36pc of ad revenue from Safari browser, court hears
1 year, 1 month ago

Google gives Apple 36pc of ad revenue from Safari browser, court hears

The Telegraph  

Google gives Apple a 36pc cut of advertising revenue from its searches made in its Safari browser, a court has heard. The US Department of Justice has accused Google of abusing its dominant position by paying billions to ensure that its search engine remains the default on smartphones and browsers. According to Prof Murphy, Apple receives 36pc of all advertising …

Column: Google’s dominance affects us all. Why is its trial being held in secret?
1 year, 1 month ago

Column: Google’s dominance affects us all. Why is its trial being held in secret?

LA Times  

Google: Maker of the best search engine, or just the most popular? Bing’s share is so meager that specialized search providers — think Open Table and TripAdvisor — “have little interest in working with Microsoft, except, perhaps, as an after-thought,” according to the plaintiffs’ pretrial brief. The technical arguments raised at the trial turn on whether Google’s arrangements with the …

Google CEO Sundar Pichai defends paying Apple and others to make Google search the default on devices
1 year, 1 month ago

Google CEO Sundar Pichai defends paying Apple and others to make Google search the default on devices

The Hindu  

Testifying in the biggest U.S. antitrust case in a quarter century, Google CEO Sundar Pichai defended his company’s practice of paying Apple and other tech companies to make Google the default search engine on their devices, saying the intent was to make the user experience “seamless and easy.’’ The Department of Justice contends that Google — a company whose very …

Google CEO defends paying Apple and others to make Google the default search engine on devices
1 year, 1 month ago

Google CEO defends paying Apple and others to make Google the default search engine on devices

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Testifying in the biggest U.S. antitrust case in a quarter century, Google CEO Sundar Pichai defended his company’s practice of paying Apple and other tech companies to make Google the default search engine on their devices, saying the intent was to make the user experience “seamless and easy.’’ The Department of Justice contends that Google — a company …

Google to present its star witness, the company's CEO, in landmark monopoly trial
1 year, 1 month ago

Google to present its star witness, the company's CEO, in landmark monopoly trial

NPR  

Google to present its star witness, the company's CEO, in landmark monopoly trial Enlarge this image toggle caption Boris Streubel/Getty Images for DFB Boris Streubel/Getty Images for DFB For the past six weeks, the Justice Department and dozens of top state prosecutors have tried to prove that Google illegally used its monopoly power to ensure its search engine remained on …

Sundar Pichai had warned Google about ‘bad optics’ of Apple search partnership: ‘Have Yahoo as a choice’
1 year, 2 months ago

Sundar Pichai had warned Google about ‘bad optics’ of Apple search partnership: ‘Have Yahoo as a choice’

Live Mint  

Google CEO Sundar Pichai had expressed concerns about the search giant's exclusive partnership with Apple. Google pays the Cupertino-based tech giant billions of dollars to have Google search as the default search engine on all of its devices, including the iPhone, iPad and Mac. Pichai, who was in-charge of the company's Chrome browser, had shared his concerns about Google paying …

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to testify in Google antitrust trial
1 year, 2 months ago

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to testify in Google antitrust trial

The Hindu  

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella is expected to testify on Monday as a witness for the US Justice Department, according to a filing on the docket of its once-in-a generation court fight against Alphabet's Google. The take The government is likely to ask Nadella about Microsoft's efforts to expand the reach of Edge and Bing, its browser and search engine, …

U.S. argues Google wants too much information kept secret in antitrust trial
1 year, 3 months ago

U.S. argues Google wants too much information kept secret in antitrust trial

The Hindu  

The US Justice Department on Monday objected to removing the public from the court during some discussions of how Google prices online advertising, one of the issues at the heart of the antitrust trial under way in Washington. "This satisfies public interest because it's at the core of the DOJ case against Google," he said. And sometimes the redactions are …

Why is Google on trial in the United States? | Explained
1 year, 3 months ago

Why is Google on trial in the United States? | Explained

The Hindu  

The story so far: On September 12, Justice Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia started hearing what is being described as the most important case about the future of the Internet. The key allegation against Google is that its “arrangements” with Apple and other companies to be the default search engine on their devices, …

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