Google has agreed to pay Texas $1.375 billion to settle two lawsuits alleging that the company unlawfully tracked users’ personal location, incognito searches, voice data, and facial-recognition data without consent. On Friday, May 9, 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a preliminary agreement to resolve the privacy-violation cases against Google. Paxton described the settlement as a “historic win” for Texans’ data-privacy and security rights.
The lawsuits, which were filed in 2022, accused Google of illegally collecting and tracking users’ private data, including geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric information. “In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law,” Paxton stated emphatically. “For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won.”
This settlement addresses multiple allegations from the 2022 Texas lawsuit against Google concerning the unlawful tracking and collection of users’ personal information, including geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric data. According to Paxton, Google collected millions of biometric identifiers, such as voiceprints and facial-geometry records, through services like Google Photos and Google Assistant.
Google responded to the settlement by stating that it resolves several old claims related to product policies it has since updated. The company noted that the settlement does not require further changes to its products. “We are pleased to put them behind us, and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services,” said Google spokesperson José Castañeda in a statement to The Texas Tribune.
This settlement marks the largest payout by Google to a U.S. state over privacy breaches. It comes on the heels of other significant settlements involving the state of Texas, including a $700 million settlement with Google in 2023 over its “anticompetitive practices” and a $1.4 billion agreement with Meta in 2024 over biometric data collection.
In addition to the settlement, the law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, which represented Texas in the litigation, holds three contingent-fee contracts with the state. This means that payment is contingent on Texas prevailing in the case. However, the attorney general’s office did not specify which contract applies to this case. The contracts stipulate that Norton Rose Fulbright will be compensated either by its billable hours multiplied by a factor of four or by a percentage of the total settlement, whichever is lower. The percentage ranges from 10% to 27%, depending on the contract. If the $1.375 billion settlement is finalized, the firm’s share could range from $137 million to $371 million.
As the settlement moves forward, it highlights ongoing concerns regarding user privacy and data protection in the digital age. The case has drawn attention not only for its financial implications but also for the broader implications it has for tech companies and their handling of user data.
In recent years, there has been a growing public awareness and concern regarding privacy issues, particularly with major tech companies that collect vast amounts of user data. The Texas lawsuits against Google underscore the need for transparency and accountability in how personal information is handled.
Paxton’s announcement of the settlement has been met with a mixture of relief and skepticism among privacy advocates. While some view the settlement as a significant step forward in the fight for user privacy, others argue that it does not go far enough in holding tech companies accountable for their practices.
“This is a major win for Texans' privacy,” Paxton said in his statement, emphasizing the importance of protecting individuals’ rights in the face of powerful tech companies. He reiterated that the settlement sends a clear message that companies like Google must adhere to the law and respect the privacy of their users.
Google, on the other hand, has maintained that the settlement does not imply any wrongdoing or legal liability on their part. The company insists that it has already made necessary updates to its policies and practices to better protect user data. “We are pleased to put them behind us,” Castañeda reiterated, indicating that the company is committed to enhancing privacy controls in its services.
The settlement is set to be finalized soon, but it raises important questions about the future of privacy regulation in the tech industry. As more states consider similar legal actions against tech companies, the outcomes of these cases could shape the landscape of digital privacy rights in the United States.
As the dust settles on this landmark settlement, it remains to be seen how it will influence other states and their approach to regulating tech giants. The implications of this case extend beyond Texas, potentially setting a precedent for future legal actions against companies that mishandle user data.
In a world increasingly reliant on technology, the need for robust privacy protections has never been more critical. The Texas case against Google serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle for user rights and the importance of holding companies accountable for their practices. As consumers become more aware of their privacy rights, the pressure on tech companies to operate transparently and ethically will only continue to grow.
