Android user chucks potential $10bn+ sueball at Google over 'spying', 'harvesting data'... this time to build supposed rival to TikTok called 'Shorts'
- Reference: 1596802985
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/08/07/android_users_chuck_sueball_at/
- Source link:
The putative class-action suit, filed on Wednesday in the Northern district of California
[1]PDF
also alleged that Google was gathering info from TikTok specifically in order to "unfairly compete against TikTok [with a] competing video platform app called 'Shorts'."Just yesterday, US president Donald Trump issued [2]two executive orders banning made-in-China-but-only-operating-outside-of-it app TikTok, along with Chinese messaging service WeChat.
This week's sueball cited a recent report [3]alleging the existence of an internal programme dubbed "Android Lockbox", which it said was the source of "behind the scenes technical insight" into non-Google apps.
The suit further alleged that Lockbox worked "through Google Mobile Services and allows Google employees to spy on how Android Smartphone users interact with non-Google apps. For example, Google is able to collect data on when and how often an Android smartphone user opens and runs non-Google apps and the amount of time spent in non-Google apps."
The plaintiff, Robert McCoy, stated that Google asks for "consent" during the Android setup process, but says that users are "only vaguely told that Google will collect personal data 'to offer a more personalized experience'," adding: "Android smartphone users... relied upon this statement when setting up their Android smartphones thinking that [they] would become more 'personalized' when in fact Google actually secretly pilfered their sensitive personal data without their consent."
The suit also claims that it is not "disclosed that Google actually monitors, collects, and uses sensitive personal data when Android users use non-Google apps."
The lead plaintiff's legal team – which is looking to certify a class of millions of users – alleged that the Chocolate Factory breached various privacy, competition, and contract laws, including California's new sweeping Consumer Privacy Act. The suit seeks $5,000-a-head per breach. With a potential class in the "millions", that's at least $10bn.
At historic Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google CEOs hearing, congressmen ramble, congresswomen home in on tech market abuse [4]READ MORE
Google has previously said it collects the data from users who agree to share their "usage and diagnostics" information with the firm.
The ad 'n' search giant is currently under the microscope by competition regulators on both sides of the pond. Earlier [5]this week , the European Commission said it would use EU Merger Regulations to look at Google's proposed $2.1bn purchase of Fitbit and the wider data implications for users and rivals, as it was concerned the deal would "further entrench Google's market position in online advertising".
Over in the US, the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law is taking a good long look at "Online Platforms and Market Power" – putting Amazon, Apple, and Facebook on the grill along with Google. It's all here in its full glory on, er, Google's [6]YouTube .
On the privacy front, the company is also [7]fighting off a lawsuit from Chrome users alleging its browser harvests their personal info even though they opted out of Chrome sync.
We have asked Google for comment. ®
The case is McCoy v. Alphabet, Inc. et al , case number 5:20-cv-05427.
Get our [8]Tech Resources
[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2020/08/07/mccoy_v_alphabet_et_al.pdf
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/07/us_wechat_tiktok_national_security_threats/
[3] https://www.theinformation.com/articles/internal-google-program-taps-data-on-rival-android-apps
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2020/07/30/apple_amazon_facebook_congress/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/04/ec_probe_fitbit/
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBFDQvIrWYM
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2020/07/28/google_chrome_privacy_lawsuit/
[8] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
So, if you tick the " yup I am happy to be spied upon " box , you get spied on?
HTH
You'll get spied on whatever the box you tick.
I've been using lockbox ...
I've been using lockbox for about 10 years already ...
https://sourceforge.net/projects/tplockbox/
Re: I've been using lockbox ...
Two minor questions.
1. Do you often us software that has received no updates for 4 years.
2. What the fuck has it to do with this article?
Google has apps that compete with TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram? News to me, not that I have ever used the aforementioned signs of the apocalypse.
App that "competed" with Faecesbook was probably Google+
Some awards ceremony somewhere
And the award for the best use of the word "pilfered" in a legal filing goes to..............
Lawyers gotta feed their families
I suppose it will be settled in X years, and Google will pay 20 cents per user + $10M to the lawyers. And then the world will be a better place...
Re: Lawyers gotta feed their families
Who cares. If it costs them £20 million in legal fees, fine by me.
Check not in the mail
I got an Email from the goog yesterday, that I can apply for settlement for a class action suit they lost for leaking data from Google+ accounts 2 years ago.
The sum of $12 per user can be mine IF - You got the email, will give them your real name and address, and your bank routing and account number.
AS IF I would trust goog with that data if they can't even keep,,, well anything from their system of greed. No doubt the account data will be leaked and cost way more than a crappy $12. Hell, if they planned this it couldn't be better for them, leak a million peoples data, then offer to pay them $12 each to get even more data from them. Blah.
Re: Check not in the mail
I feel this could be called fishing.
u dumm@$$
these laywer moneys go through an intermediary bank account in civilised countries.
It is their nature
Raise your hand if "tech companies spy on users and exploit their private data" is a surprise to you.
How about "smartphones are always-on surveillance devices?" Show of hands.
Anyone? Anyone at all?
Re: It is their nature
they know when I'm out and about because it's been switched to aeroplane mode.
Re: It is their nature
It is what it is.
Or.
IT is what it is.
Re: It is their nature
Just the other day I was talking to a friend about derivatives (the calculus type) and she asked how I'd define them. After I gave her a brief expo, I picked my phone to look for a more exact definition.
I typed d-e-f- into the google search box and the first suggestion was "Definition of derivative"
What are the odds?
On a side note, I don't have google's voice assistant enabled
Well Doh!
Using anything that is made by or is associated with Google and you know what you are letting yourself in for.
That is to put it bluntly, being spied upon morning, noon and night. Everything you do is fair game for Google and everyone else who wants to get your data.
But what is the alternative? Apple? Frying pan meet fire perhaps?
Re: Well Doh!
It is what it is.
We have asked Google for comment. ®
"The case is McCoy v. Alphabet, Inc. et al, case number 5:20-cv-05427"
But is it the real McCoy?
Shorts is a great name for a wholesome app. Can't see how that coukd ba misinterpreted.
So, if you tick the "yup I am happy to be spied upon" box, you get spied on?