It’s a Big Week for Google Privacy Violation Settlements

Google’s pockets are about $200 million lighter than they were coming into this week after the company agreed to two separate settlements for two separate class action lawsuits that accused the company of violating user privacy. $135 million will be paid in a case that alleged Google collected user cellular data without permission, and $68 million will go to put to bed a case that claimed Google allowed its Google Assistant to record private conversations without permission.

The bigger payout related to Google’s apparent practice of needlessly (or illegally, depending on your perspective) collecting cellular data even when a user had closed all Google apps, had location sharing turned off, and had locked their device’s screen. Google allegedly used that data for product development and targeted advertising, which the lawsuit alleged was “conversion,” the wrongful acquisition of another party’s property with the intent to control it.

Per Reuters, the…