Australia’s federal court founded that Google misled users regarding personal location data which is collected on Android mobile devices that are between 2017 and 2018 as per the country’s regulator.
However, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is launched by the legal proceeding against Google in 2019. It mentioned the ruling was an “important victory for consumer” in regards to the protection of online privacy.
ACCC mentioned Google misled Android users into thinking of the search of giants which might collect personal data only if the “location history”. Moreover, the court found that Google should still collect store, and make use of personally identifiable location data if the setting for the “web and application activity” which was on-even if “location history” which turned off.
ACCC Chair Rod Sims mentioned in a statement, “This is an important victory for consumers, especially anyone concerned about their privacy online, as the Court’s decision sends a strong message to Google and others that big businesses must not mislead their customer.”
A Google spokesperson has highlighted that the court rejected most of the ACCC’s broad claims.
The Google spokesperson mentioned, “We disagree with the remaining findings and are currently reviewing our options, including a possible appeal.”
Notably, the ACCC’s legal proceedings the tech giants who have improved the user transparency and control involving an auto-delete for the location history and an incognito mode in its Maps product.
The ACCC said mentioned that it is now seeking the declaration, pecuniary penalties, and also publication of orders and compliance order which didn’t specify the amount.
Sims mentioned that it will permit the users in making the informed choices whether they must leave certain Google settings enabled. Also mentioned, “In addition to penalties, we are seeking an order for Google to publish a notice to Australian consumers to better explain Google’s location data settings in the future.”
However, the competition regulator as well as the tech giant previously faced over media law which mat need the likes of Google and Facebook for paying for news. However, in February, Australia has now passed the law in the parliament.
