The legal action refers to a widely reported 2018 revelation turning off one location-tracking setting in its apps was insufficient to fully disable the feature.

It accuses Google of using so-called dark patterns, marketing techniques that deliberately confuse.

Google said the claims were inaccurate and outdated.

The legal action was filed in the District of Columbia. Similar ones were also filed in Texas, Indiana and Washington state.

It refers to an Associated Press revelation turning off Location History when using Google Maps or Search was insufficient – as a separate setting, Web and App Activity, continued to log location and other personal data.

Discussion

1. Does you consider it a ” dark patterns, marketing techniques that deliberately confuse ” if an app provides a way to turn off location-tracking, but the phone is still doing it anyway and you’re not told about that particular setting?
2. Why does Google do this?