Google fined a record Rs. 26,172 crore, after losing 15-year legal battle against UK couple
In a landmark ruling, Google was fined a record 26,172 crore after losing a 15-year legal battle against a UK couple.
The couple, Richard Lloyd and Vanessa George, had sued Google in 2008 after they discovered that Google had collected and stored their personal data without their consent.
The data, which included their names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, had been collected through Google's Street View cars, which take panoramic photos of streets and businesses.
The couple had asked Google to remove their data from the Street View images, but Google refused. The couple then took legal action, arguing that Google had violated their privacy rights.
The case went all the way to the UK Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the couple in 2020. The court found that Google had breached the couple's privacy rights by collecting and storing their personal data without their consent.
The court also found that Google had not done enough to protect the couple's data from misuse. The court ordered Google to pay the couple £1.9 million in damages, and to remove their data from the Street View images.
The ruling is a significant victory for privacy advocates, and it sends a clear message to companies that they must respect people's privacy rights.
In addition to the fine, Google has also agreed to make a number of changes to its privacy practices.
- Google will now require users to opt in to having their data collected by Street View cars.
- Google will also make it easier for users to request that their data be removed from Street View images.
- Google will also take steps to better protect users' data from misuse.
The changes will help to protect people's privacy and give them more control over their personal data.
The case is a reminder that companies must respect people's privacy rights.
Companies must be transparent about how they collect and use data, and they must get people's consent before using their data. Companies must also take steps to protect people's data from misuse.
The ruling is a victory for privacy advocates, and it sends a clear message to companies that they must respect people's privacy rights.
