Google under the radar for violating privacy and storing Location History even when it is turned off on the smartphone!
- Google has a new lawsuit against it and this time it is regarding the storing of the location data of the users even when the user has turned off the Location History on the smartphone device
The lawsuit details
Google has the practice of tracking the location and storing this data. Last week, they quietly rewrote the description of this practice on its own website wherein it stated that ‘some’ location data may be saved by them in their Search and Maps services.
Last week Associated Press exposed this ‘cheating’ and privacy breach on the part of the Tech Company. A man from San Diego has now taken Google to court on this matter.
At the same time, activists in the Washington area have requested the Federal Trade Commission whether Google has breached its 2011 consent decree.
More on the lawsuit
A person called Napoleon Patacsil has filed a lawsuit in the federal court of San Francisco. His attorneys accused the Tech Giant of violating the California Invasion of Privacy Act which is in place.
They added that the state’s constitutional right to privacy has also been breached by Google. In the lawsuit, Napoleon has stated that in both Android and iPhone people who turned off their Location History on the phone still had them recorded by Google. The matter is being investigated in detail now.
Also read Google Glitch! The latest victim to have died online is Utah Senator Orrin Hatch!
Electronic Privacy Information Center
On 17 August, the attorneys representing Electronic Privacy Information Center have written to the FTC a three-page letter in stern words saying that Google has violated the 2011 settlement it had done with the agency.
It had agreed in this settlement that it would not do any wrong representing as regards what it collects and stores from its clients.
It would also not say anything untrue about the extent to which the customers may have control over the collection, use, and disclosure of their information including their Location History.
But in spite of agreeing to the above, Google continued to collect and store this data with them and also displays it sometimes.
Google keeps saying that:
“You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored.”
It has now been exposed that all this is totally false and Google without the customers’ knowledge continues to accumulate all the location data of the person and store it.
Congress and lawmakers’ intervention
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) has already expressed his anger on the matter and tweeted:
“It should be simple—“off” means “off.” Google’s relentless obsession with following our every movement is encroaching & creepy. I’ve called for an FTC investigation into its persistent privacy invasions.”
It should be simple—“off” means “off.” Google’s relentless obsession with following our every movement is encroaching & creepy. I’ve called for an FTC investigation into its persistent privacy invasions. https://t.co/ycDLVo59zw
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) August 14, 2018
Source: Ars Technica, Reuters, Washington Post
