Google settles $5 billion consumer privacy lawsuit

 Alphabet’s Google has agreed to settle a lawsuit claiming it secretly tracked the internet use of millions of people who thought they were doing their browsing privately.

US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, put a scheduled 5 February 2024 trial in the proposed class action on hold on Thursday (28 December), after lawyers for Google and for consumers said they had reached a preliminary settlement.

The lawsuit had sought at least $5 billion. Settlement terms were not disclosed, but the lawyers said they have agreed to a binding term sheet through mediation, and expected to present a formal settlement for court approval by 24 February 2024.

Neither Google nor lawyers for the plaintiff consumers immediately responded to requests for comment. (...)