Every Gmail User on the earth Just Won a Settlement Against Google and Got Nothing [Google]

Congratulations to all Gmail users for winning a class action settlement. You need to be pleased with yourselves for making Google pay for putting your privacy in danger with its crazy Google Buzz settings. Your reward? A pat on the back.

You can read the whole terms of the settlement agreement here , but here’s an summary which explains why you don’t get anything:

First, Google agreed to make, and did make, changes to Buzz that clarify its operation and users’ options regarding Google Buzz, including, principally, changes regarding user information and control over Buzz’s privacy settings. The Settlement Agreement recognizes that since the inception of this Action Google has made these changes to Google Buzz.
Second, Google will do more to coach users in regards to the privacy aspects of Google Buzz. Google will consider the recommendations of Plaintiffs in regards to the content of that public education. Google will select and design the overall content of the public education efforts in its discretion, and may provide a report to Plaintiffs’ lead lawyer of the education undertaken.
Third, Google can pay a total of $8,500,000 into an interest-bearing account. This $8,500,000, plus interest, will constitute the ” Common Fund.” Because few, if any, Class Members suffered compensable actual damages and because a pro rata distribution of the fund to the Class would not be feasible due to the size of the Class, the typical Fund amounts in far more than fees, costs, expenses, and incentive awards will probably be distributed to organizations that advance the privacy interests of internet users together with the Class Members. The Settlement Agreement, available on this website , describes the entire details concerning the proposed Settlement Agreement.

In plain terms? There are too a lot of people in this settlement and too few actually suffered any damages for Google to annoy paying them directly. Instead the company will give the funds to nice Internet privacy organizations.

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This post is tagged: class action settlement, incentive awards, privacy interests, public education efforts, settlement agreement