A US federal judge has rejected Google’s bid to dismiss a privacy lawsuit accusing the tech giant of collecting personal data from users’ mobile devices despite their efforts to disable tracking. The decision paves the way for a jury trial set to begin on August 18, 2025.
The case, overseen by Chief Judge Richard Seeborg of the federal court in San Francisco, revolves around claims that Google misled users about how its Web & App Activity settings function. Plaintiffs allege the company continued to track their browsing activities even after they turned off tracking settings, violating California’s laws against unauthorized data collection.
Judge Seeborg ruled that Google’s explanations about data collection were ambiguous, potentially leaving users unaware of how their data was being used. He cited internal communications suggesting Google was aware of the ambiguity, with some employees noting users might find the company’s practices “alarming.”
The judge further stated that Google’s conduct could be seen as “highly offensive” by reasonable users, as the company allegedly collected data despite employee concerns and unclear disclosures.
Google defended its practices, arguing that its Web & App Activity settings were adequately disclosed and that users consented to tracking. The company also maintained that its data collection practices did not cause any harm, characterizing the lawsuit as an attempt to misrepresent how its products function.
“Privacy controls have long been integral to our services, and these claims deliberately mischaracterize our practices. We will continue to defend our position in court,” Google said in a statement.
This lawsuit, initially filed in July 2020, follows a series of legal challenges for the company regarding user privacy. In a related case, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit last year accusing Google of tracking Chrome browser users who opted out of syncing their activity with Google accounts.
Additionally, Google settled a similar privacy case in 2022 by agreeing to destroy billions of data records. That lawsuit alleged the company continued tracking users who believed they were browsing in private modes like Chrome’s “Incognito” feature. The settlement was valued at over $5 billion, and the same legal team now represents the plaintiffs in the current case.
The August trial will determine whether Google’s actions constituted a breach of user trust and violated privacy laws. The outcome could have significant implications for data collection practices in the tech industry.