The company is accused of collecting personal data from DMV customers. Is it true?
American Catherine Wilson has accused tech giant Google of illegally collecting users ' personal information from the official website of the California Department of Transportation (DMV). On her initiative, another class-action lawsuit was filed against the company .
According to the plaintiffs, Google uses the web analytics systems Google Analytics and DoubleClick as trackers to obtain personal data that visitors to DMV sites provide exclusively for the agency. Such actions, according to Wilson, violate the Drivers ' Personal Data Protection Act (DPPA) and the California Privacy Act (CIPA). It is assumed that the corporation could have had the personal information of millions of people at its disposal.
Katherine visited the agency's website last summer when she was renewing a parking permit for people with disabilities. At the time, she didn't know that Google was "following" her when she filled out an application, communicated directly with the DMV, searched for information on the site, or clicked on any links. According to her, all this indirectly indicates that she has a disability.
In her complaint, the plaintiff claims that Google analyzes the search queries of users of the site, fixing keywords such as" teenagers"," drivers with disabilities "and any other"queries related to disability".
Google probably uses the collected information to create detailed user profiles and targeted ads. It is known that about 40% of extensions of parking permits for disabled people in 2023 were issued online. At the same time, the authorities themselves actually encourage citizens to use online DMV services instead of visiting offices.
According to the DPPA, personal information that cannot be collected by the DMV for any purpose other than providing services within the agency includes "information identifying a person," as well as "medical or disability information," derived from vehicle records.
Three decades after the passage of this law, Google, according to Wilson, either "irresponsibly," or "deliberately" ignores the basic principles of privacy protection laid down in the DPPA.
Catherine is sure that Google not only knows that it collects confidential data about drivers, but also "intentionally" bypasses security mechanisms that could prevent violations.
However, Google representatives disagree with the charges. According to them, such information is controlled only by companies and government organizations themselves, which are required to warn users about the collection of personal data.
Wilson demands that the court prohibit Google from tracking user activity on DMV web resources. It also seeks to prevent the company from using the data already collected in this way for advertising purposes. If the fact of violations is proved, Catherine expects compensation for moral and financial damage.
The statement of claim explicitly states that based on the collected data, Google can make "extremely subjective conclusions" about demographics, intentions, behavior patterns, engagement, interests, making decisions about users ' purchases and much more.
American Catherine Wilson has accused tech giant Google of illegally collecting users ' personal information from the official website of the California Department of Transportation (DMV). On her initiative, another class-action lawsuit was filed against the company .
According to the plaintiffs, Google uses the web analytics systems Google Analytics and DoubleClick as trackers to obtain personal data that visitors to DMV sites provide exclusively for the agency. Such actions, according to Wilson, violate the Drivers ' Personal Data Protection Act (DPPA) and the California Privacy Act (CIPA). It is assumed that the corporation could have had the personal information of millions of people at its disposal.
Katherine visited the agency's website last summer when she was renewing a parking permit for people with disabilities. At the time, she didn't know that Google was "following" her when she filled out an application, communicated directly with the DMV, searched for information on the site, or clicked on any links. According to her, all this indirectly indicates that she has a disability.
In her complaint, the plaintiff claims that Google analyzes the search queries of users of the site, fixing keywords such as" teenagers"," drivers with disabilities "and any other"queries related to disability".
Google probably uses the collected information to create detailed user profiles and targeted ads. It is known that about 40% of extensions of parking permits for disabled people in 2023 were issued online. At the same time, the authorities themselves actually encourage citizens to use online DMV services instead of visiting offices.
According to the DPPA, personal information that cannot be collected by the DMV for any purpose other than providing services within the agency includes "information identifying a person," as well as "medical or disability information," derived from vehicle records.
Three decades after the passage of this law, Google, according to Wilson, either "irresponsibly," or "deliberately" ignores the basic principles of privacy protection laid down in the DPPA.
Catherine is sure that Google not only knows that it collects confidential data about drivers, but also "intentionally" bypasses security mechanisms that could prevent violations.
However, Google representatives disagree with the charges. According to them, such information is controlled only by companies and government organizations themselves, which are required to warn users about the collection of personal data.
Wilson demands that the court prohibit Google from tracking user activity on DMV web resources. It also seeks to prevent the company from using the data already collected in this way for advertising purposes. If the fact of violations is proved, Catherine expects compensation for moral and financial damage.
The statement of claim explicitly states that based on the collected data, Google can make "extremely subjective conclusions" about demographics, intentions, behavior patterns, engagement, interests, making decisions about users ' purchases and much more.
