Google is expected to pay nearly $400 million to settle lawsuits with 40 US states over claims that the company misled users about its location tracking practices

Google is expected to pay nearly $400 million to settle lawsuits with 40 US states over claims that the company misled users about its location tracking practices.<br><br>Washington will get $14 mil from a $391.5 million nationwide settlement with Google over allegations the search engine leader misled consumers about location tracking on its services. The attorney general’s office made the announcement on Monday. The investigation, involving DC, Indiana, and 40 other states, found that since at least 2014, Google has made misleading statements to consumers about its location tracking practices. The investigation found that Google places digital markers in locations like shops that continuously communicate with smartphones via Bluetooth. Google admitted to using Bluetooth beacons in Google Maps. <br><br>Location history is the information Google has on the places a user has been while signed in to their Google account. Google also stated that users can turn off their Location History and Web & App Activity settings at any time. However, the investigation found that even when these settings are turned off, Google services still collect location data. Google says that this data is only used to improve services, but it is used for other purposes such as targeted advertising. Google's digital assistant, Google Home, also tracks users' locations by storing information like Wi-Fi information and nearby device data, which can be used to determine a precise location. Google has until 2025 to provide annual reports to the states to confirm that it is complying with the agreement.