When the allegations that Android smartphones were tacking the users location without the user approving it, I think we all knew that suits were coming. The same thing has already happened with the iPhone and Apple has class action suits pending against it right now. Google is now in the same boat with some Android users filling suit.

Two users have reportedly sued Google over claims that the Android device they own was tracking their location without their consent. The two people that filed suit are residents of Oakland County in Michigan and field on April 27 in a Federal court in Detroit. Both of them use HTC Inspire 4G phones. The users both claim “[the Android devices track them] just as if by a tracking device for which a court-ordered warrant would ordinarily be required.”

The plaintiffs are looking to turn the case into a class action and want $50 million in damages and a court order to force Google to eliminate the tracking. A Google spokesman told Bloomberg in an email, “We provide users with notice and control over the collection, sharing and use of location. Any location data that is sent back to Google location servers is anonymized and is not tied or traceable to a specific user.”

[via Bloomberg]

16 COMMENTS

  1. What a load of crap…. Typical of today’s society and the world we live in. The movie “Atlas Shrugged” is a prime example of the dumber Americans piggy backing on the success of corporate America and those that create successful companies. Sad.

  2. What a load of crap…. Typical of today’s society and the world we live in. The movie “Atlas Shrugged” is a prime example of the dumber Americans piggy backing on the success of corporate America and those that create successful companies. Sad.

  3. What a load of crap…. Typical of today’s society and the world we live in. The movie “Atlas Shrugged” is a prime example of the dumber Americans piggy backing on the success of corporate America and those that create successful companies. Sad.

    • You obviously know nothing about the greater philosophy behind the book Atlas Shrugged. Educate yourself and I guarantee you that you’ll regret your comment.

      • I guarantee that my interpretation of Atlas Shrugged is more that adequate…. I’m quite the educated individual, and don’t appreciate being mocked. Good day.

  4. wtf tards, this system exists only to make you use less bandwithd when the phone has to synchoronize itself, nothing else, your right it saves you a lil bit of money. Anyway you guys are worthless individuals and no one cares about where you are. wow nowadays people are so dumb.

  5. There is an opt-in on initial configuration of a device and you can turn off location awareness in settings.

    Are they accusing Google of collecting the data even when the user declined? If the argument is that Google collected data that they informed the user of and the user agreed to then I fail to see how the people suing have a case.

    • Also if you then turn off the wifi location aid then turn it back on it prompts you that the data will be collected.

      Hopefully these people have to pay google for the legal fees as this is just dumb.

      They should have bought an Iphone… then sued apple instead over the huge plain text location data and tracking.

  6. There are some out there who are looking for any opportunity to make a buck. You will always be tracked as long as you use a cell phone. This is nothing new. Police have been using cell phone towers to track people’s where abouts since cell phones were introduced.

    • Yeah! Now government can track terrorists that are using android phones!
      Seriously, its not even that effective, in fact it only randomly update and is not precise at all as i read. Its just a little file that is only used to remember wifi and towers so its faster next time you get by. People are so dumb..

  7. every single time i buy a new android phone or flash a new rom the first thing that google asks me is if i want to enable location based services IT DOES IT EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!! these people are so freaking stupid they are just trying to make an easy buck lazy ass people.

  8. i don’t know I just find this whole argument sound so damn stupid, to begin with just about every smartphone is somehow centered around location based software, and everyone that purchases one normally understands and accepts that fact. Now, all of a sudden it is a big deal.

    Come on son, you don’t don’t want to be tracked, don’t get a cell phone. I mean think about it, evwrytime YOUR phone rings YOU SPECIFICALLY has been tracked, now is that a problem? So just STFU and turn your phone off, God!

  9. Would it be more like… “Attorneys find a way to dig up another victimless Class Action suit against deep pockets company”… As an android user who uses both Google Calendar and GMail and GOOGLE pretty much anything else I do… The GPS is the least of my worries when it comes to Google…

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