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Google to Pay $1.375 Billion to Settle Texas Privacy Lawsuits

Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to the U.S. state of Texas in order to settle two major lawsuits over allegations that the tech giant unlawfully tracked users’ personal location and stored biometric data without their consent

May 12, 2025

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Google to Pay $1.375 Billion to Settle Texas Privacy Lawsuits

Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to the U.S. state of Texas in order to settle two major lawsuits over allegations that the tech giant unlawfully tracked users’ personal location and stored biometric data without their consent. The settlement marks one of the largest privacy-related payouts by a technology company in U.S. history.

Background of the Lawsuit

The original lawsuits, filed in 2022 by the Texas Attorney General’s office, centered around accusations that Google violated state privacy laws by:

  • Tracking users’ geolocation even after they disabled the Location History setting.

  • Storing search activity and other personal data, including Incognito mode interactions.

  • Collecting and retaining biometric data, including voiceprints and facial geometry, through services such as Google Photos and Google Assistant, without clearly informing users or obtaining their permission.

These practices, the state argued, not only breached users’ expectations of privacy but also violated the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI) and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

“A Major Win for Texans' Privacy”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the settlement a decisive victory in protecting citizens’ privacy rights.

“For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services,” Paxton said. “This $1.375 billion settlement is a major win for Texans’ privacy and tells companies that they will pay for abusing our trust.”

Comparison to Past Settlements

The size of this settlement significantly surpasses previous deals Google has made with other states:

  • $391 million in November 2022 to settle with 40 states for location tracking violations.

  • $29.5 million in January 2023 to settle with Indiana and Washington.

  • $93 million in September 2023 to resolve a similar case with California.

Taken together, these figures reflect a growing trend among state governments to hold tech companies accountable for their data collection practices.

In comparison, Meta (formerly Facebook) agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over allegations that it had illegally harvested biometric data from millions of users — a clear indication that regulatory focus on privacy is intensifying.

Google’s Response and Privacy Changes

In response to increasing legal pressure and user concerns, Google has introduced several privacy-focused updates:

  • Maps Timeline Data: The company announced in 2023 that it would begin storing Timeline data locally on users’ devices rather than in the cloud, reducing centralized data risks.

  • Auto-Delete Options: Users now have the ability to set their location history to auto-delete after specific time intervals, helping to ensure that long-term tracking data isn’t stored indefinitely.

  • Privacy Controls: Google continues to improve transparency by updating consent forms and making it easier for users to manage how their data is collected and used.

While these changes aim to restore trust, critics argue that more robust privacy legislation is still needed to ensure long-term accountability.

Broader Regulatory Context

This settlement arrives as Google faces heightened regulatory scrutiny both in the United States and abroad:

  • In the U.S., the Department of Justice and several states are pursuing antitrust lawsuits targeting Google's dominance in search and advertising markets.

  • In the European Union, the company has been fined multiple times under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is under investigation for anti-competitive behavior and misuse of user data.

With governments increasingly concerned about digital surveillance and monopolistic practices, this case underscores the importance of transparent and lawful data handling.