Google continues to share your location, even if you switch off location sharing

Despite users' requests to turn off location sharing, Google has been accused of sharing users' locations. Four attorneys general from three US states, led by District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine, have launched a new lawsuit against Google (D). According to the lawsuit, Google misled users about how their location is recorded and used by the firm, as well as consumers' capacity to protect their privacy by opting out of the tracking.

According to the lawsuit, Google misleads users into believing that they have complete control over what data is gathered by the firm and how it is used. Users of Google goods, on the other hand, have discovered that they cannot prevent Google from collecting, storing, and profiting from their location. According to the research, when users use Google products, Google collects personal data, including location data, in order to expand its company. The data is then used to target adverts to specific consumers.

"Google falsely led consumers to believe that changing their account and device settings would allow customers to protect their privacy and control what personal data the company could access. The truth is that contrary to Google's representations, it continues to systematically surveil customers and profit from customer data," said DC Attorney General Karl Racine in a statement.

Google has also been accused of having a powerful financial incentive to "conceal the details of its location data collection practices and to make it difficult for consumers to opt-out of being tracked."

Reacting to the lawsuit, Google's spokesperson denied the claims made in the lawsuit. "The attorneys general are bringing a case based on inaccurate claims and outdated assertions about our settings. We have always built privacy features into our products and provided robust controls for location data," said Google policy spokesperson José Castañeda.