Alphabet’s Google has successfully convinced a federal judge in San Francisco to dismiss part of a lawsuit alleging the company misled investors about its digital advertising practices and user privacy protections. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin ruled that shareholders failed to adequately support claims of false statements on Google’s website.
The plaintiffs can proceed with their claim that a 2020 statement by Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to Congress was false. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accuses Google of rigging online advertising to favor its platforms or through an agreement with Meta’s Facebook.
Google denies wrongdoing, stating it operates a fair auction system. Judge Lin noted that investors did not prove Google acted with the necessary intent for securities fraud, and a CEO’s role does not automatically make them responsible for all website statements.
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