A search for “Australia News” on the Google homepage, arranged on a desktop computer in Sydney, Australia, on Friday, January 22, 2021.
David Gray | Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Australian federal court found that Google misled users about personal location data collected via Android mobile devices between 2017 and 2018, the country’s competition regulator said on Friday.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) – which launched legal proceedings against Google in 2019 – said the ruling was a “major victory for consumers” in protecting online privacy.
Google misled Android users that the search giant could only collect personal data if the “location history” setting is turned on, ACCC said. The court found that Google could still collect, store and use personally identifiable location data if the “web activity and application” setting is enabled – even if “location history” is turned off.
“This is an important victory for consumers, especially for anyone concerned about their online privacy, as the Court’s decision sends a strong message to Google and others that large companies should not mislead customers,” the president said. ACCC, Rod Sims, in a statement.
We do not agree with the remaining conclusions and are currently examining our options, including a possible appeal.
A Google spokesman pointed out that the court rejected many of the ACCC’s general claims.
“We do not agree with the remaining results and are currently examining our options, including a possible appeal,” a Google spokesman said in a statement.
Following the ACCC’s legal procedures, the technology giant has improved transparency and user control, including an automatic history deletion feature and an incognito mode in its Maps product.
The ACCC said it was requesting declarations, financial penalties, publication orders and compliance orders, but did not specify the amount.
“In addition to penalties, we’re looking for an order for Google to issue a notice to Australian consumers to better explain Google’s location data settings in the future,” Sims said, adding that it will allow users to make informed choices. cause if you should let certain Google settings are enabled.
The competition regulator and the technology giant have previously clashed over a media law that would require Google and Facebook to pay for the news. Australia passed the law in parliament in February.