(LifeSiteNews) — The state of Texas has secured an “historic” $1.375 billion settlement agreement with Google

The October 31 announcement from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office marked the conclusion of two of the largest data privacy enforcement actions ever brought by a single state against the tech giant. Paxton sued Google for unlawfully tracking and collecting users’ private data regarding geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric data in 2022.

“This historic $1.375 billion price tag for Google’s misconduct sends a clear warning to all of Big Tech that I will take aggressive action against any company that misuses Texans’ data and violates their privacy,” said Paxton in a press release. “If Big Tech thinks they can get away with abusing user data and illegally spying on Texans without consequences, I will make sure they are proven wrong. This monumental settlement is a testament to my office’s commitment to taking on the biggest companies in the world and securing victory on behalf of Texans.”

“The settlement obtained by Attorney General Paxton for these combined abuses far eclipses that of any other one state’s settlement against Google for similar claims, with the largest single-state settlement to date outside of Texas being $93 million,” declared the AG office.  “Additionally, a forty-state coalition secured $391 million in its privacy case against Google, which is almost one billion dollars less than what Attorney General Paxton secured for Texas alone.”

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Google allegedly used the data it illicitly obtained for commercial purposes, including improving its AI algorithms.

Under the Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act in the Texas constitution, it is illegal to collect and share biometric data without consent.

“Google has now spent years unlawfully capturing the faces and voices of both non-consenting users and non-users throughout Texas—including our children and grandparents, who simply have no idea that their biometric information is being mined for profit by a global corporation,” the 2022 complaint stated. 

“What Google did should shock everyone,” said online watchdog account, MJTruthUltra on X. The X-user said that Google engaged in “Unlawful Location Tracking: Even after users disabled location history features on their Android or iOS devices, Google continued to collect and store geolocation data WITHOUT CONSENT.” 

“Google’s ‘Incognito’ or private browsing feature in Chrome was marketed as not tracking search history or location activity. Google STILL collected and used this data for advertising and other purposes,” the watchdog account noted.

Google also ollected unauthorized biometric data. 

“Google captured and stored sensitive biometric identifiers — such as voiceprints (from voice searches or Assistant interactions) and facial geometry (from photo analysis in services like Google Photos) — without obtaining informed consent,” the account further stated. 

“Is Google still allowed to keep the biometric data they ILLEGALLY collected?” MJTruthUltra wondered.

HOLEE SHIZZLES‼️

Texas AG Ken Paxton just won a $1.375 BILLION Settlement against GOOGLE — the largest ever, with a single state.

What Google did should Shock Everyone…

– Unlawful Location Tracking: Even after users disabled location history features on their Android or iOS… pic.twitter.com/B5S8EsdcTk

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) October 31, 2025

This settlement comes on the heels of Paxton’s $1.4 billion settlement with Meta (formerly Facebook) for illegal biometric data collection and his $700 million and $8 million settlements with Google for anticompetitive and deceptive trade practices.

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