Google Is Looking At $4.3 Billion Loss Thanks To UK Lawsuit

Google spying on users has become the norm these days and most people have learned to look past the fact that the search engine company is now in their lives in much deeper ways than their closest loved will ever be. However, there is a group in the UK that is not prepared to accept this fact and is willing to sue to prove a point. If successful, this group could take a huge chunk out of Google worth $4.3 billion.

The group, in question, is called Google You Owe Us and it counts 4.4 million users in the UK. The group filed the lawsuit last July, accusing Google of violating their privacies between the period of 2011 and 2012, CNET reports.

The issue apparently involves something called the “Safari Workaround” in that Google found a way around the privacy settings of Apple’s internet browser and still collect data on users. Apple had already paid out settlements to lawsuits that arose as a result of this particular issue, but those amounts are peanuts compared to what it’s being sued for right now.

According to The Guardian, among the information that was collected by Google through the bypass include “race, physical and mental health, political leanings, sexuality, social class, financial, shopping habits and location data.” If the group’s lawsuit is successful, each of its members will be awarded around £750 each.

In response to the lawsuit, its communications director, Tom Price says that this particular issue no longer has any merit because it happened over six years ago. He says that it had already been dealt with and should thus pose no problems now.

"The privacy and security of our users are extremely important to us," Price said. "This case relates to events that took place over six years ago and that we addressed at the time. We believe it has no merit and should be dismissed."