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Some South Dakota farmers are unhappy with industrial ag getting conservation funds; Texas judge allows abortion in Cox case; Native tribes express concern over Nevada's clean energy projects.

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The Colorado Supreme Court weighs barring Trump from office, Georgia Republicans may be defying a federal judge with a Congressional map splitting a Black majority district and fake electors in Wisconsin finally agree Biden won there in 2020.

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Texas welcomes more visitors near Big Bend but locals worry the water won't last, those dependent on Colorado's Dolores River fear the same but have found common ground solutions, and a new film highlights historical healthcare challenges in rural Appalachia.

Iowa to Collect $6 Million Over Google Location-Tracking Practices

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Monday, November 21, 2022   

Iowa will collect more than $6 million from Google over the internet giant's location-tracking practices.

The settlement is part of a multi-state, $390 million lawsuit.

The Iowa Attorney General's office has seen an increase in consumer complaints related to online activity, and has devoted more resources to policing online practices.

The suit contends Google users were being tracked in multiple ways and without their knowledge.

Ashlee Kieler, communications specialist with the Iowa Attorney General's office, said people didn't know they had to turn off their location-sharing function in different places on their phone or laptop.

"Specifically it involved Google's location history and then, the web and app activity," said Kieler. "Location history is turned off if you are a Google user, automatically. However, the web and app activity, which is a separate account setting, is automatically turned on when you start your account."

The suit, which was initiated by Maryland's Attorney General, claims Google built detailed profiles of its customers, failed to alert them to the extent of the personal location information it collected, and did not tell them they were being tracked in multiple ways.

While Iowans who've used Google won't receive personal restitution from this settlement, Kieler said the state will use its $6 million share of the settlement to bolster the AG's Consumer Protection Division, which handles complaints and educates people about how technology and information can be used.

"Technology is a part of everyone's life now," said Kieler. "And it's important that consumers understand when and how they're being tracked, and to know what companies are doing with that information."

The settlement requires Google to be more transparent about its tracking practices, and show additional information to users when they turn on a location-related account setting.






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