Google Settles Shareholder Lawsuit for $350 Million Over Google+ Data Exposure

The settlement resolves claims related to a security bug in the defunct Google+ platform, marking a significant legal resolution for the tech giant.

Google agreed to pay $350 million to settle a lawsuit stemming from a security bug in its now-defunct Google+ social media website, which exposed users' personal data.
The settlement, requiring approval by U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson, comes after more than a year of mediation and covers Alphabet shareholders from April 23, 2018, to April 30, 2019.
Google denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement, emphasizing its commitment to identifying and fixing software issues and taking data security seriously.
The lawsuit was led by Rhode Island Treasurer James Diossa on behalf of a state pension fund that owned Alphabet stock, highlighting the financial impact of the data exposure on shareholders.
This settlement follows a series of legal challenges for Google, including a recent lawsuit over secret tracking of internet use by Chrome users in private mode and ongoing scrutiny over competition laws.