GOOGLE’S DEEP STATE OF SURVEILLANCE: COURT REVERSES RULING, ACCUSES COMPANY OF MASSIVE DATA THEFT
In a shocking turn of events, a federal appeals court has ordered Google to face a class action lawsuit accusing the tech giant of stealing users’ data through Chrome without their consent. The ruling, handed down on Tuesday, reverses a previous decision that dismissed the case, citing Google’s alleged failure to disclose the extent of its data collection practices.
GOOGLE’S SHADY PRIVACY POLICY EXPOSED
The class action lawsuit, first filed in 2020, alleges that Google collects data from Chrome users, including browsing history, IP addresses, and unique browser identifiers, regardless of whether they enable Chrome sync. This feature, which saves bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs to your Google account, has been touted as a convenient way to access your information across multiple devices.
BUT AT WHAT COST?
The plaintiffs claim that Google "intentionally and unlawfully" collects this data without explicit permission, and that the company’s privacy policy is deliberately ambiguous and misleading. Judge Milan D. Smith Jr. agrees, writing in the decision that the lower court failed to consider whether users actually understood the terms of Google’s privacy agreement.
GOOGLE’S RESPONSE: A MASTERCLASS IN DOUBLE-SPEAK
In a statement to The Verge, Google spokesperson José Castañeda attempted to downplay the significance of the ruling, claiming that Chrome Sync is a "clear privacy control" that allows users to access their information across devices. But critics argue that this control is little more than a smokescreen for Google’s real motives: to harvest and monetize user data.
THE BATTLE FOR ONLINE PRIVACY HAS JUST BEGUN
As the case returns to the lower courts for reconsideration, one thing is clear: Google’s days of unchecked surveillance are numbered. The tech giant’s aggressive data collection practices have finally been called into question, and it’s time for users to demand better protection of their online privacy.
