An Arizona suit to stop Google from tracking consumers targeted by ads received the green light today from a state court.
In a case worth billions of dollars that has worried Big Tech and thrilled privacy advocates, a state judge allowed Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s suit to move toward trial, his latest win in a case with potentially national implications.
“Great win for Arizona consumers today. For too long, the company has used deceptive and unfair practices to allegedly obtain users’ location data to help fund its lucrative advertising business. We will not stand by as Big Tech continues to invade Arizonans’ personal privacy,” Brnovich said in a statement to Secrets.
The decision came a day after three states and the district filed their own user tracking suits against Google.
Judge Timothy Thomason sided with Brnovich in two of three complaints in the case that concern consumer tracking by apps and Android phones. Google had sought a summary judgment in the case.
JUST IN: we won a major victory against Google.
We appreciate the judge’s ruling, allowing our lawsuit against Google to move forward to trial.
For too long the company has used deceptive practices to obtain users’ location data to help fund its lucrative advertising business. pic.twitter.com/mWKEtyM2BG
— Mark Brnovich (@GeneralBrnovich) January 25, 2022
Brnovich, a 2022 GOP Senate candidate targeting Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, sued Google last May, claiming it used devices to track users for advertising purposes.
His action followed reports that Google could track users’ locations even after they had turned location tracking off. Subsequent stories showed that even Google insiders were concerned that the firm could track people who otherwise thought they had gone incognito.
When Brnovich made his initial filing, he explained, “While Google users are led to believe they can opt-out of location tracking, the company exploits other avenues to invade personal privacy. It’s nearly impossible to stop Google from tracking your movements without your knowledge or consent. This is contrary to the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act and even the most innovative companies must operate within the law.”
