For years, the search and internet giant allowed users to hide their 'Location History' but tracked it anyway, suit alleges.
filed in the superior court of the District of Columbia on Monday, there are at least three account settings that control where Google collects location data: Location History, Web & App Activity and Google Ad Personalization. The three settings collect someone's location independently of each other.
But that was a lie to force users to turn over more of their data, which Google relied on for advertising, the complaint says. It alleges that Google lied to users about tracking until at least 2019 — five years during which it pulled in tens of millions of dollars from Washington, D.C., residents alone.
"Location data is among the most sensitive information Google collects from consumers. Even a limited amount of such data, gathered over time, can expose a person's identity and routines," the complaint says.