Google sued again for collecting data without consent, here's what we know

The state of Texas has filed a lawsuit against Alphabet’s Google, alleging they have collected biometric data of millions of residents without obtaining the proper consent.

In the lawsuit, filed by Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas, it is claimed they used this information to train deep neural networks that are behind some of its biggest revenue generating products, like its Google Photos app, Nest Hub Max and Google Assistant, as per theDaily Mail.

‘Cash cows’

Companies in Texas have been prohibited for over a decade from collecting data on people's faces, voices or other biometric data without consent in advance. This law states that any use of biometric data requires consent and records must be erased after a certain period.

The complainant stated, in an article by Reuters:

In blatant defiance of that law, Google has, since at least 2015, collected biometric data from innumerable Texans and used their faces and their voices to serve Google’s commercial ends. Indeed, all across the state, everyday Texans have become unwitting cash cows being milked by Google for profits.

Google’s response

A spokesman for Google has responded by telling the Daily Mail:

Paxton is 'mischaracterizing' Google's 'products in another breathless lawsuit' and plans on setting the record straight in court.

The lawsuit is one of several filed across the US against Google claiming breaches of privacy and misuse of data. Reuters comments:

Arizona settled one in early October for $85 million. Texas, Indiana, Washington State and the District of Columbia sued Google in January over what they called deceptive location-tracking practices that invade users' privacy.

In the case of this lawsuit in Texas, Google could be fined $25,000 per violation. With a population of 29 million it could be a costly court case for the tech company.

Sources used:

- Daily Mail 'Texas SUES Google for using millions of residents' biometric data gleaned from photos 'for its own commercial interests' without consent: Could cost the tech giant $25,000 per violation'

- Reuters 'Texas sues Google for allegedly capturing biometric data of millions without consent'

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