Pay up google!

Millions of British iphone users could receive hundreds of pounds in compensation from Google, after it was accused of illegally accessing people’s internet browsing history.

A mass lawsuit brought by consumer-rights campaigner Richard Lloyd alleges that between June 2011 and February 2012 Google bypassed the privacy settings of Safari, the iphone’s default web browser. He claims Google placed cookies that tracked users’ browsing, allowing it to sell personalised adverts in search results. This ‘trick’ became known as the ‘Safari Workaround’.

If successful, his case could force Google to pay £2.7bn in compensation to an estimated 5.4m iphone users, who would each receive up to £500.

It’s the first collective legal action in the UK, a procedure more common in the US. It allows many individuals to be represented by one.

Mr Lloyd, former director of Which?, is leading the case through the Google You Owe Us group ( www.youoweus. co.uk, see screenshot). Everyone who meets certain criteria, which includes owning an iphone between 1 June 2011 and 15 February 2012, will automatically be part of the lawsuit, though you’ll still need to sign up to receive money.

To see the criteria in full visit www.youoweus.co.uk/ faqs and click question 4. To opt out, read question 10.

Being part of the claim won’t cost you anything. All legal fees are being paid by a ‘third-party funder’, which will receive a part of any damages awarded.

Mr Lloyd said: “By joining together, we can show Google that they can’t get away with taking our data without our consent, and that no matter how large and powerful they are, nobody is above the law”.

Google said it will contest the case, claiming it is old and without merit. It will be heard in the High Court, probably next spring.