Google thought it had secured a major win in 2017 when a judge approved a measly $5.5 million settlement rendered against the search giant over its persistent use of tracking cookies even when users opted out. That settlement, however, was recently junked a by three-judge federal appeals court that has now allowed plaintiffs to pursue a class action suit against Google.
Randall Chase filed this this report for the Associated Press:
A three-judge panel ruled Tuesday that a Delaware judge erred in approving the settlement in 2017.
The settlement called for Google to stop using the cookies for Safari browsers and to pay $5.5 million to cover plaintiffs’ legal expenses, incentive awards to class representatives, and contributions to data privacy organizations, some with prior ties to Google.
In return, Google was released from potential liability for money damages.
The appeals panel said the judge’s “cursory” settlement analysis was insufficient. It expressed particular concern about the broad release of claims for money damages and the payments to outside groups.
