Google’s “Location History” Feature
Allegations: Misrepresenting that Google does not track consumers’ movements or store a record of their locations when the “Location History” feature on mobile devices is disabled
Google’s Marketing of Pine-Sol
In June 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed alleging that Google’s website – sometimes referred to as Google Buys or Google Shopping — misleadingly markets Pine-Sol Multi Surface Cleaner using language and an image of the product label that claims the cleaner “Kills 99.9% of Germs” and implies that the product will also kill the COVID-19 virus without adequate scientific studies to support such claims. (Golditch et al v. Alphabet, Inc., Google, Inc., and Google, LLC, Case No. 20-cv-11142, D. Mass.)
Class-Action Tracker
YouTube Subscriptions
Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose the terms of subscriptions
Google’s Designed for Families Program
Allegations: Deceptively marketing apps in its Designed for Families program as safe and appropriate for children
FitBit Fitness Trackers
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that fitness trackers are capable of measuring blood oxygen levels when they do not provide accurate measures
Google Pixel 4a, 5, and 5a Cellphones
Allegations: Advertising phones as capable of accessing 5G broadband networks when they were no longer able to access 5G networks after a software update
GoodRx
Allegations: Falsely representing that the company safeguards consumers’ personal data when such information was disclosed to third parties
YouTube Music and YouTube Premium
Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose the terms of subscriptions and making it difficult to cancel
DoubleU Games Gambling Games
Allegations: Promoting illegal virtual gambling games
Grande Games Gambling Games
Allegations: Promoting illegal virtual gambling games
Zynga’s Gambling Games
Allegations: Promoting illegal virtual gambling games
Gambling Games in the Google Play Store
Allegations: Promoting illegal virtual gambling games
Gambling Games on Google
Allegations: Promoting illegal virtual gambling games
Disclosures in Google Play
Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose that certain games use loot boxes, which are a form of gambling that violates state anti-gambling laws
Google Stadia
Allegations: Falsely advertising Stadia as more powerful than other gaming consoles and as displaying all video games in 4k resolution
Google Home Devices
In August 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Google LLC and Alphabet Inc. for allegedly falsely advertising that various Google Home devices – including the Google Home, Google Home…
Google Drive Storage Fees
In January 2015, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Google for, among other things, allegedly deceiving customers who subscribe to Google Drive (a data-storage service). According to the complaint, Google…
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Microsoft jumps on anti-Google bandwagon.
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After a yearlong investigation, New York regulators are announcing a crackdown on misleading online reviews.
Google Pays AdBlock Plus to Have Ads Whitelisted
Is the point of AdBlock Plus to block annoying ads, or to curate them?
Penalties that Pack a Pinch
Are FTC settlements just a cost of doing business?