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4.4mn iPhone users sue Google for unlawfully collecting personal info
22 May 2018
4.4 million iPhone users in the UK have filed a lawsuit against Google accusing it of unlawfully collecting users' personal information and violating their privacy from 2011 to 2012.
iPhones have default privacy settings on the Safari browser that block third-party tracking via cookies, but Google allegedly used an algorithm to bypass that setting and allow developers to track users' browsing history without consent.
4.4 million iPhone users could get payout of $1,000 each
Argument
The group, called "Google You Owe Us," is demanding around $4.3 billion as compensation, which is about $1,000 for each affected iPhone user.
The two parties have now met in a court in London for the first time since Google's "Safari Workaround" was first discovered in 2012.
Google is, obviously, arguing against the data collection claims.
No damages to iPhone users have been determined
Counter-argument
Google is arguing that there is no proof of any user ever being affected by the Safari Workaround.
Tom Price, Google UK's communications director, said, "The privacy and security of our users are extremely important. This case relates to events that took place over six years ago and that we addressed at the time. We believe it has no merit and should be dismissed."
The workaround was first discovered by a Stanford University researcher
Fact
Here's what Google was referring to when it said the issue has been addressed by the company. After the workaround was discovered, Google agreed to pay $17 million to 37 states and Washington, and $22.5 million to the Federal Trade Commission as penalties in 2013.
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