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Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

#11

Post by realgeniushere »

sithlord wrote: post #9
throwaway82028 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Although the situation is ideal for class action, federal law caps the penalty at $500,000 for class action and so depending on the number of class members the amount I'd get as a class representative is likely less than what I'd get in an individual case.

So you don't really care about others, just yourself. A class action, could gain you near nothing but cost Google millions, or you could gain 10k and google could lose 10k.

Uh, if the class action damages cap is 500k then it’s only worth 500k to Google…

Re: Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

#12

Post by yamtaddle »

Huh—my experience with having my credit "frozen" was that I could still open accounts, it just meant that if it was happening online the company would call me first using some number on record with the CRAs (I think?) to make sure it was really me (and, like... why the actual fuck isn't that the default behavior? Why do you have to request that they do that?)

I'd not have even bothered unfreezing before trying to apply for something from Google. Now I'm wondering how that would look. They do hate paying actual people to do actual-people things, so maybe they'd, uniquely, just flat-out reject the request.

(yes, I get that OP removed the freeze first, I'm just wondering how Google would have handled it if they hadn't)

Re: Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

#13

Post by javajosh »

sithlord wrote: post #9
throwaway82028 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Although the situation is ideal for class action, federal law caps the penalty at $500,000 for class action and so depending on the number of class members the amount I'd get as a class representative is likely less than what I'd get in an individual case.

So you don't really care about others, just yourself. A class action, could gain you near nothing but cost Google millions, or you could gain 10k and google could lose 10k.

I am very glad the OP is pursuing action at all; it is far too easy to simply let violations of the law slide (and companies work hard to make it so). He deserves praise for that. The few of us who go through this stressful months or years-long journey deserve all the support we can give them. We should try to avoid giving petty, selfish critiques from the backseat.

Re: Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

#15

Post by throwaway82028 »

yamtaddle wrote: post #12

Huh—my experience with having my credit "frozen" was that I could still open accounts, it just meant that if it was happening online the company would call me first using some number on record with the CRAs (I think?) to make sure it was really me (and, like... why the actual fuck isn't that the default behavior? Why do you have to request that they do that?) I'd not have even bothered unfreezing before trying to app…

Having a freeze is actually supposed to prevent any pull at all, which is why Experian has an option to unfreeze. The fraud alert is a separate action though that states you have been a victim of identity theft.

Re: Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

#16

Post by throwaway82028 »

jupp0r wrote: post #8

What's in it for you to start the project of fighting Google's lawyers on this? I think it's great that you point this out, but I'd consider different ways of creating pressure on them to change their policies. Can you complain to the FCC?

Because I already sent a letter to multiple agencies about it and nothing was done, so the only recourse I have to get them to change their ways is to file it myself or find a class action attorney willing to do it.

Re: Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

#17

Post by throwaway82028 »

sithlord wrote: post #9
throwaway82028 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Although the situation is ideal for class action, federal law caps the penalty at $500,000 for class action and so depending on the number of class members the amount I'd get as a class representative is likely less than what I'd get in an individual case.

So you don't really care about others, just yourself. A class action, could gain you near nothing but cost Google millions, or you could gain 10k and google could lose 10k.

I do get why you might feel that way, but first by me going alone it doesn't prevent someone else from filing a class action.

Re: Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

#18

Post by throwaway82028 »

thebooktocome wrote: post #7
mannykannot wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, '...but it is a pretty unique issue.'

Doesn’t take that much time to slap a fraud alert on your credit and force this bureaucratic process of theirs to trigger. Probably isn’t worth the legal fees though.

It likely is not. Just the filing fees in federal court can be close to $500 and I believe the ECOA requires the action be brought in federal court.

Re: Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

#19

Post by toss1 »

thebooktocome wrote: post #7
mannykannot wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, '...but it is a pretty unique issue.'

Doesn’t take that much time to slap a fraud alert on your credit and force this bureaucratic process of theirs to trigger. Probably isn’t worth the legal fees though.

Could this be ripe for an automated lawsuit app, like the one to fight against bogus parking fines?

How many could be won before Google finally fixes it?

Re: Google admits to violating federal law and plans to keep doing it

#20

Post by nanidin »

toss1 wrote: post #19
thebooktocome wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn’t take that much time to slap a fraud alert on your credit and force this bureaucratic process of theirs to trigger. Probably isn’t worth the legal fees though.

Could this be ripe for an automated lawsuit app, like the one to fight against bogus parking fines? How many could be won before Google finally fixes it?

I wonder if Google would cut off accounts associated with suing Google.
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