Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has agreed to pay a substantial sum of $8 million in a settlement following allegations of deploying misleading advertisements to promote the Pixel 4 smartphone, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The tech behemoth, renowned for its search and advertising dominance and its ownership of YouTube and Android smartphone software, has been under intense scrutiny from federal authorities and state attorneys general regarding antitrust and consumer protection violations.
Currently facing two antitrust lawsuits from the federal government, Google’s latest predicament involved the alleged hiring of radio presenters in providing testimonials about the Pixel 4, despite denying them the opportunity to use the actual devices.
Paxton emphasized the importance of truthfulness in advertising, stating that Google’s blatant falsehoods resulted in financial gain and necessitated the settlement to hold the company accountable for deceiving Texans.
Google highlighted its commitment to advertising law compliance and expressed satisfaction in resolving the matter.
