Google聽is being sued for 拢3.2 billion after consumer campaign group Google You Owe Us alleged it tracked the personal data of 4.4 million iPhones.
The search giant is being taken to the UK’s high court by a collective action led by former Which? director Richard Lloyd.
The group says Google bypassed the privacy settings of Apple鈥檚 Safari browser on iPhones. According to The Guardian, the tracking took palce between August 2011 and February 2012 and was used to delve deeper into personal data for advertisers.
The hearing opened on Monday with a list of the information聽Google is said to have聽collected, which range of areas from race to physical and mental health and politics, sexuality, financial and location.
Hugh Tomlinson QC, representing Lloyd, said Google has already paid $39.5m to settle claims on the issue in the US when in 2012 it was聽fined $22.5m聽by the US Federal Trade Commission and聽paid $17m to 37 US states.
Speaking ahead of the hearing, Lloyd said: 鈥淚 believe that what Google did was quite simply against the law.
鈥淭heir actions have affected millions in England and Wales and we鈥檒l be asking the judge to ensure they are held to account in our courts.鈥�
If successful the group could win claimants a total 拢1bn split between the 4.4m affected users, but could seek up to 拢3.2bn which would mean 拢750 per person.
Google鈥檚 lawyers have countered the claims, saying there鈥檚 no suggestion any information was passed on to third parties following the workaround.
Anthony White QC, for Google, said: 鈥淭he court should not permit a single person to co-opt the data protection rights of millions of individuals for the purpose of advancing a personal 鈥榗ampaign鈥� agenda and should not allow them to place the onus on individuals who do not wish to be associated with that campaign to take positive steps to actively disassociate themselves from it.鈥�
Tom Price, communications director for Google UK, said: 鈥淭he privacy and security of our users is extremely important to us. This case relates to events that took place over six years ago and that we addressed at the time.
鈥淲e believe it has no merit and should be dismissed. We鈥檝e filed evidence in support of that view and look forward to making our case in court.鈥�