Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the summary of the Action?
- What is the Proposed Settlement about?
- How do I know if I am a Settlement Class Member?
- Will my rights be affected by the Settlement?
- What is the Release in the Settlement?
- Can I opt-out of the Settlement?
- Who is Class Counsel and how much are they being paid?
- When is the Final Approval Hearing?
- Can I object to the Settlement?
- Where can I get more information?
- What is the summary of the Action?
The plaintiffs in this case allege that Google applies automated processing to scan the content of emails sent by non-Gmail users to a Gmail account, while those emails are still in transit, and uses information obtained from the scanning for advertising purposes including creating user profiles of the Gmail users. In the case plaintiffs filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (the "District Court"), entitled Matera v. Google Inc., 5:15-cv-04062 LHK (the "Action"), they alleged that Google’s conduct violates the California Invasion of Privacy Act, Penal Code § 630 et seq., ("CIPA") and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2510 et seq., ("Wiretap Act"). The complaint requests that Google be required to change its practices and stop scanning emails of non-Gmail users as described above. The complaint does not seek any form of money compensation for the plaintiffs or other class members.
The Court has not made any determination of any wrongdoing by Google, and Google denies the allegations of the complaint and plaintiffs’ claims that Google’s automated processing of email violates CIPA or the Wiretap Act. On July 21, 2017 the parties agreed to settle all claims in the Action to avoid the costs and disruption of further litigation.
Top - What is the Proposed Settlement about?
In the Settlement, Google has agreed to cease all automated scanning of emails sent to Gmail accounts for advertising purposes while the emails are in transmission prior to delivery to the Gmail user’s inbox. This includes elimination of any scanning to create user profiles for advertising purposes. The Settlement defines advertising purposes as "for the purpose of serving advertisements, including advertisements served in Gmail and in other Google products and services. ‘Advertising Purposes’ includes the creation of user models for the purpose of serving advertising." Although Google does not currently conduct any scanning for advertising purposes related to outbound emails sent by Gmail users, Google has agreed to refrain from initiating any scanning for advertising purpose of outbound emails. These prohibitions will remain in place for three years.
Google also is making a business-related change to the Gmail service, as part of which, Google will no longer scan the contents of emails sent to Gmail accounts for advertising purposes, whether during the transmission process or after the emails have been delivered to the Gmail user’s inbox. These changes are not subject to the three-year time period or other terms of the Settlement. Google views these additional changes as independent of the Settlement, but as consistent with and evidencing Google’s commitment to the Settlement.
Top - How do I know if I am a Settlement Class Member?
You are a Settlement Class Member if you are a natural person (that is, not a business or other legal entity) in the United States who has never had a Google Gmail account, but have sent an email to any person or entity which was not encrypted. (Emails are typically sent without special encryption, or coding for secrecy, and plaintiffs do not allege that encrypted emails were subject to Google’s scanning.) For all Settlement Class Members, the Settlement resolves their claim under the federal Wiretap Act. For Settlement Class Members within the State of California, the Settlement also resolves their claim under California’s CIPA law. The Settlement Class and Subclass are defined as follows:
All natural persons in the United States who have never established a Gmail account with Google, and who sent unencrypted emails to individuals with Gmail accounts.
All natural persons in the State of California who have never established a Gmail account with Google, and who sent unencrypted emails to individuals with Gmail accounts.
Top - Will my rights be affected by the Settlement?
If you have never had a Gmail account with Google but you sent unencrypted emails to Gmail users in the past, or if you intend to do so in the future, your rights may be affected by this Settlement. If approved by the Court, the Settlement will affect your right to seek injunctive, declaratory and other non-monetary equitable relief against Google for the alleged practices at issue in this Action. The Settlement will not affect your right, if any, to seek monetary relief from Google. You may obtain copies of the Settlement Agreement and related court filings, including the Fee and Expense Application, by writing to Matera v. Google, Inc. Settlement Administrator, PO Box 404024, Louisville, KY 40233-4024 or on the Court Documents page of this website.
Top - What is the Release in the Settlement?
If the Settlement is approved, Settlement Class Members will be deemed to have released Google from and for any and all claims, whether known or unknown, which you have or may have in the future, that were alleged or asserted against Google in the Action or that could have been alleged or asserted against Google in the Action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you will only be deemed to have released claims for declaratory, injunctive, and non-monetary equitable relief. You will not be deemed to have released any claims for monetary relief.
Top - Can I opt-out of the Settlement?
Because the plaintiffs are seeking only injunctive relief and Google is only agreeing to injunctive relief, Class Members cannot opt-out of the Settlement. This means that all members of the Settlement Classes will be bound by the Settlement if the Court approves it.
Top - Who is Class Counsel and how much are they being paid?
The individual plaintiffs and the Settlement Classes are represented by Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP; Carney Bates & Pulliam, PLCC; and Gallo LLP ("Class Counsel"). Class Counsel will request that the Court award them a reasonable attorneys’ fee and reimbursement of their costs for their service to the Settlement Class in litigating this Action and obtaining the Settlement for the benefit of the Settlement Class Members. Any attorneys’ fee and costs awarded by the Court will be paid solely by Google. Google will not oppose a Fee and Expense Application that does not exceed $2,200,000 in fees and Class Counsel’s actual out-of-pocket expenses up to $100,000. Class Counsel will also request that the two named plaintiffs in the Action each receive a service award of $2,000. These requests for an award of attorney’s fees and costs and service awards will be filed with the Court on or before October 30, 2017 and will be available for review on the Court Documents page of this website.
Top - When is the Final Approval Hearing?
The Settlement became final and was approved by the Court on February 9, 2018.
Top - Can I object to the Settlement?
Any Settlement Class Member may submit a comment or objection to the Settlement. Comments or objections must be submitted in writing by January 19, 2018, to the Settlement Administrator at the address below, referencing "Matera v. Google Inc., 5:15-CV-04062." To be considered, any objection must contain: (i) the objector’s name, address, and personal signature; (ii) a statement whether the objector intends to appear at the final approval hearing, either in person or through counsel, and, if through counsel, identifying the counsel; and (iii) a statement of the grounds for the objection. If you do not submit a timely written objection, or if you do not request participation in the final approval hearing, you will not be able to participate in the final approval hearing. Submit comments or objections to:
Matera v. Google, Inc. Settlement Administrator
PO Box 404024
Louisville, KY 40233-4024
Top - Where can I get more information?
You may obtain more information on this website or by contacting the Settlement Administrator at Matera v. Google, Inc. Settlement Administrator, PO Box 404024, Louisville, KY 40233-4024.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE DISTRICT COURT OR THE CLERK’S OFFICE WITH QUESTIONS REGARDING THE NOTICE.
The Notice is not an expression of any opinion by the Court as to the merits of the lawsuit or as to the fairness of the Settlement. The notice is published to advise you of the pendency of the Actions, the Settlement, and your associated rights.
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