So, what happens when one of the world’s most powerful companies gets caught with its digital hands in your privacy jar?
They write a check. A very big one.
Google is coughing up a jaw-dropping $1.375 billion to settle with the state of Texas over accusations that it secretly tracked people’s locations, harvested their facial features, and collected biometric data without permission.
Yeah. While we were busy searching for the nearest taco place, Google was busy building a profile of your face, your voice, and your every move, even when Location History was turned off. Sounds like the plot of a sci-fi movie, but this one played out in court.
This Isn’t Google’s First Time at the Privacy Rodeo
Let’s be clear: Texas isn’t the first state to call Google out. But it is the first to slap them with a fine so big it makes previous ones look like loose change.
Here’s the scoreboard:
- 2022: $391 million paid to 40 states
- 2023 (Jan): $29.5 million to Indiana and Washington
- 2023 (Sept): $93 million to California
- Now: $1.375 billion to Texas alone
That’s not a typo. Texas basically said, “You wanna mess with our data? Pay up.”
And Google did.
So What Exactly Did Google Do?
Texas accused Google of:
- Tracking people’s geolocation, even with Location History turned off
- Collecting facial geometry and voiceprints through products like Google Photos and Google Assistant
- Doing all this without clear, informed consent
According to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, “Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their face geometry.” That’s a serious invasion of privacy, one that turns everyday users into walking data mines.
If you’re thinking, “Wait, wasn’t Incognito mode supposed to protect me?” … yeah, about that…
Apparently, “Incognito” doesn’t mean invisible. It just means less visible. Like wearing sunglasses at night and hoping no one recognizes you.
Google’s Clean-Up Act
In response to the growing backlash, Google recently announced it’ll start storing users’ Maps Timeline data locally on devices instead of the cloud. It’s also added auto-delete options for location history, but only if you turn that setting on.
So technically, they’re giving us a mop. After they spilled a gallon of privacy juice all over the floor.
Déjà Vu: Meta Did the Same Thing
Interestingly, Meta also paid Texas around $1.4 billion over similar biometric snooping. If you’re keeping score, that’s two tech giants, two billion-dollar settlements, and millions of users unknowingly profiled.
Should we start calling it the “Texas Privacy Tax?”
The Bigger Picture: Big Tech on the Hot Seat
This isn’t just a Texas story. It’s part of a global reckoning. Google is also under fire in Europe and across the U.S. for monopolistic practices, privacy violations, and general Big Brother behavior.
There’s talk of breaking it up. Regulators want answers. Users want transparency. And Google—well, Google’s trying to pay its way out of the mess.
Okay, But What Can You Do About It?
Sure, it’s fun watching tech giants get roasted in court, but your own data is still floating around out there. If you want to avoid becoming the next biometric experiment, here’s how to start locking things down:
🧠 Techbrain’s Practical Steps to Stay Off Big Tech’s Radar
- Kill Location Tracking at the Source:
Don’t just turn off “Location History.” Go deeper. Disable Web & App Activity too, it often logs locations even when the map says it’s off. - Ditch Auto-Backup for Photos:
Google Photos scans for faces like it’s building an FBI profile. Disable face grouping and auto-backup unless you’re cool with that. - Limit Voice Data Collection:
Head into your Google account > Data & Privacy > Web & App Activity > Uncheck Include audio recordings. It’s on by default. - Run Privacy Checkups:
Use Google’s own tools against them. Run the Google Privacy Checkup and Security Checkup to shut doors you didn’t even know were open. - Use Alternatives Where It Hurts:
Try privacy-focused browsers (Brave, Firefox), search engines (DuckDuckGo), or email services (ProtonMail). Every click you take away is one less data point they can monetize.
Tech isn’t the enemy; unchecked tech is. And the more you understand what’s under the hood, the harder it is for companies to take you for a ride.
Bottom Line?
Your data is the new oil. And Big Tech has been drilling deep, quietly, persistently, and without asking.
But people are waking up. Governments are taking action. And billion-dollar settlements like this one prove that even giants bleed when pricked.
So next time you use a voice assistant or upload a selfie, just remember: someone might be watching!