Remember when you wondered if anyone actually cared that Google knows where you go for lunch or that Meta tracks your face? Turns out Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cared enough to make them pay $2.8 billion for it.
That’s billion with a B. And it’s going straight into Texas coffers.
The Biggest Privacy Wins in the Nation
Over the past year, Paxton’s team has turned Texas into the country’s privacy watchdog, taking on fights that other states wouldn’t touch. Here’s what they’ve accomplished:
Meta got hit with a record-breaking $1.4 billion settlement for illegally capturing and using millions of Texans’ biometric data. Think facial recognition, fingerprint data—the stuff that makes you uniquely you.
Google paid $1.375 billion to settle multiple lawsuits over collecting Texans’ location data and biometric information without proper consent. Every time you wondered “how does Google know I went to that restaurant?”—now you know why they’re paying up.
General Motors became the first automaker sued for allegedly selling your driving data to car insurance companies. Yes, your car has been tattling on you to your insurance company.
Taking on the Companies You Actually Use
This isn’t just about faceless corporations. Paxton’s going after the apps and platforms Texans actually use every day:
- TikTok is being sued for failing to protect kids online
- Instagram, Discord, Reddit, and Character.AI are under investigation for their data practices with children
- A Chinese AI company got shut down for violating Texas privacy laws
- 200+ data brokers now have to register with the state (most people don’t even know what data brokers are, but they’re buying and selling your information)
What This Means for You
Here’s the thing most people miss: every dollar these companies pay in fines is money they can’t spend on more invasive tracking technology. When Google has to pay $1.375 billion, they suddenly get very interested in asking permission before collecting your data.
Plus, Texas now has over 200 companies under investigation for data privacy violations. That’s 200 companies that know Texas is watching and will think twice before playing fast and loose with your personal information.
Your Data Has Real Value
The numbers tell the story. In just one year, Paxton’s Privacy and Tech Team:
- Investigated more than 200 companies
- Collected nearly $3 billion in settlements
- Received over 2,000 privacy complaints from Texans
- Got more data brokers registered than any other state
Translation: Your personal data is valuable enough that companies will pay billions rather than stop collecting it illegally.
What Happens Next
Paxton isn’t slowing down. His office now enforces six different privacy laws, covering everything from biometric data to genetic testing to social media protections for kids.
If you’ve got a privacy complaint, Texas set up a portal last July where you can actually file it—and based on these results, they’re clearly listening.
The best part? Every other state is watching Texas prove that Big Tech can be held accountable. When one state shows it can collect billions in fines, other attorneys general start paying attention.
Bottom line: Your personal data just became a lot more expensive for companies to misuse. And for once, a Texas politician is making Big Tech pay market price for it.
