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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] A California jury has ordered Google to pay $314.6 million (approx. KRW 430 billion) in damages for unauthorized collection and transmission of user data from Android smartphones. The verdict follows a class-action lawsuit filed in 2019 on behalf of approximately 14 million California residents.
The lawsuit alleged that Google collected personal information from Android devices without user consent and used the data for targeted advertising—all while passing the associated data transmission costs on to users. The jury sided with the plaintiffs, holding Google liable for privacy violations.
In response, Google announced plans to appeal, claiming that the data transmissions were essential for maintaining device performance and reliability. The company emphasized that users had agreed to its terms of service and privacy policy.
This case may have broader implications, especially for regions like South Korea, where Android OS has a 70% market share. Concerns are growing about the potential for similar privacy violations affecting Korean users, particularly given Google's past sanctions in the country.
In 2022, South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission fined Google KRW 69.2 billion for collecting user data without proper consent. Google challenged the decision in court, but the first trial upheld the fine, with an appeal currently underway.
A second class-action lawsuit representing Android users from the remaining 49 U.S. states is scheduled to go to trial in April 2026.
알파경제 Kim Jisun (stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
