Google recently settled a class-action lawsuit for $23 million, addressing allegations of sharing user search data with third parties without consent. While Google denies wrongdoing, the settlement represents a small fraction of its substantial annual revenue. This agreement follows a lawsuit claiming Google compromised user privacy by divulging search queries, potentially including sensitive personal information, to external entities. The settlement mandates Google to update its FAQs and Key Terms pages, clarifying how search data is handled when users click on search results.

Eligible class members, comprising U.S. Google Search users who clicked on a search result between October 26, 2006, and September 30, 2013, can file a claim to receive a portion of the settlement, estimated at around $7.70 per person. This amount may vary depending on the number of claims submitted. The deadline for filing claims is July 31, 2023, with the final approval hearing scheduled for October 12, 2023.

The settlement website provides an online claim form, or users can mail a printed form to the designated address. Alternatives to filing a claim include inaction, opting out of the settlement, or objecting to the settlement terms. The deadline for opting out or objecting is also July 31, 2023. Claim submission is subject to penalties of perjury. The settlement administrator's website offers an FAQ section for those unsure of their eligibility.

Google headquarters in Mountain View, California. (Photographer: Marlena Sloss/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Google logo is pictured at the Google India office building in Hyderabad on January 28, 2022.  ((Photo by NOAH SEELAM/AFP via Getty Images))

If you wish to avoid the hassle of filing a claim, there are alternative courses of action available to you. (Kroll)

This settlement follows a similar case last year where Meta, Facebook’s parent company, paid $725 million to settle a user data mishandling lawsuit. Users are encouraged to file their claims before the deadline to receive their due compensation.