Google Pixel 4 launched in 2019.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Friday that Google has agreed to pay $8 million to settle claims that Google used deceptive ads to promote the Pixel 4 smartphone.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Friday that Google, a unit of Alphabet, has agreed to pay $8 million to settle claims it used misleading ads to promote the Pixel 4 smartphone.
The search and advertising giant, which also makes Android smartphone software and owns YouTube, has been investigated by both the federal government and state attorneys general for antitrust and consumer protection violations. The federal government has filed two conflicting lawsuits.
In this instance, Paxton’s office alleges that Google hired radio announcers to give testimonials about the Pixel 4, even though the company refused to allow them to use a phone.
“If Google is going to advertise in Texas, their statements better be true,” Paxton said in a statement. “In this case, the company made statements that were patently false, and our settlement holds Google responsible for lying to Texans for financial gain.”
Google said in a statement that it takes compliance with advertising laws seriously. “We are pleased to have resolved this issue,” said spokesman Jose Castaneda.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
