In a landmark development in the ongoing battle over digital privacy, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a record-setting $1.375 billion settlement in principle with Google, resolving claims that the tech giant unlawfully tracked and collected sensitive user data. The agreement marks the single largest state-level settlement ever obtained against Google for privacy violations and represents a significant win for consumer data rights.
The case stems from a 2022 lawsuit filed by Paxton’s office, accusing Google of secretly collecting Texans’ geolocation data, recording incognito-mode search activity, and capturing biometric identifiers—such as voiceprints and facial geometry—without users’ consent. The lawsuit alleged these practices violated Texas privacy laws and misled consumers about the scope of data collection occurring through Google’s services.
“No company, no matter how large or powerful, is above the law in Texas,” said Paxton in a statement. “Google used its dominance to quietly siphon off the private data of Texans—tracking where they go, what they search, and even their unique physical traits. We fought back, and we won. This is a major step forward in holding Big Tech accountable and protecting the fundamental privacy rights of every Texan.”
This latest agreement dramatically outpaces previous settlements reached with Google for similar allegations. The largest settlement before this came from a 40-state coalition in 2022 that secured $391 million combined—nearly $1 billion less than what Texas alone will now receive. The highest individual state recovery prior to Paxton’s action was a $93 million settlement.
The Attorney General’s office emphasized that the settlement funds would support ongoing efforts to strengthen data privacy protections and enhance enforcement tools to prevent future violations.
Legal experts say the deal sends a strong message to Silicon Valley. “This case shows that states, especially Texas, are willing to challenge Big Tech head-on,” said Sarah Kendall, a data privacy law professor at the University of Houston. “It’s a warning shot across the bow: if you exploit consumer data, expect to face consequences—even billion-dollar ones.”
The settlement follows another high-profile win for Paxton in July 2024, when his office secured a $1.4 billion deal with Meta (formerly Facebook) over its use of facial recognition technology. That case also set a record as the largest single-state settlement ever obtained for a privacy violation.
In addition to the Google privacy suit, Paxton has previously reached a $700 million settlement with Google over antitrust concerns and another $8 million deal over deceptive trade practices, making him one of the most aggressive state attorneys general in the country when it comes to challenging Big Tech.
The Office of the Attorney General credited Norton Rose Fulbright for its role as outside counsel in supporting the litigation.
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