Google, Flo Health to Pay $56 Million in Privacy Violation Suit

Settlement phrases had been disclosed late Tuesday in San Francisco federal court docket, and require approval by U.S. District Judge James Donato.

Google, a unit of Alphabet, would pay $48 million, whereas Flo would pay $8 million. Flurry, a now-defunct cellular analytics firm, settled for $3.5 million in March.

A fourth defendant, Facebook and Instagram mum or dad Meta Platforms, didn’t settle, and was discovered liable by a jury on August 4 after a two-week trial.

Meta is anticipated to enchantment the decision. A listening to to take into account damages is scheduled for September 30. Google settled two weeks earlier than the trial started, and Flo settled shortly earlier than the trial ended. Both denied wrongdoing.

Flo app customers alleged that between November 2016 and February 2019 Flo shared private data associated to their menstrual intervals and pregnancies with the opposite defendants, regardless of promising to maintain it confidential.

They mentioned this violated the California Invasion of Privacy Act, which carries statutory penalties of $5,000 per violation, theoretically justifying billions of {dollars} in damages.

Google mentioned in an announcement on Thursday that no information had been used for adverts, and prospects are prohibited from utilizing Google Analytics to acquire well being data protected below the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Meta declined to remark. Flo and attorneys for the plaintiffs didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

The case is Frasco et al v Flo Health Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 21-00757.

By Jonathan stamp.

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