US federal court rules Google illegally tracked users despite privacy settings
Class action covers nearly 100 million users and 174 million devices
Verdict comes as Alphabet navigates multiple antitrust battles
Google has been ordered by a US federal court to pay $425 million in damages after being found to have breached users privacy by collecting data from millions of people even after they had switched off a key tracking feature.
The ruling followed a class action lawsuit brought by users who said the company violated its own assurances by continuing to collect, save and use personal data despite settings in its Web & App Activity tool that were supposed to disable such tracking. Plaintiffs had been seeking more than $31 billion in damages.
A jury found Google liable on two of three privacy claims but concluded the company had not acted with malice. The case, filed in July 2020, represents around 98 million users and 174 million devices, and alleges Googles data collection extended into hundreds of thousands of apps, including those from Uber, Lyft, Amazon, Alibaba, Instagram and Facebook.
Google has denied wrongdoing and vowed to appeal. This decision misunderstands how our products work, and we will appeal it. Our privacy tools give people control over their data, and when they turn off personalization, we honor that choice, a company spokesperson said, according tothe BBC.
The firm insists that when Web & App Activity is disabled, businesses may still use Google Analytics to gather site and app data, but the information is anonymized and does not personally identify individuals.
Wider legal pressures
The decision adds to Googles mounting legal troubles. Just this week, shares in parent company Alphabet jumped more than 9% after District Judge Amit Mehta ruled the company would not have to sell its Chrome browser in a separate antitrust case brought by the US Department of Justice. However, Google will be barred from entering exclusive contracts and must share search data with competitors.
Meanwhile, District Judge Leonie Brinkema has already ruled that Google holds a monopoly in advertising technology. She is set to oversee a remedies trial later this month that could shape the future of the companys lucrative ad business.
Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has warned that the U.S. economy faces mounting risks from debt, inflation, and geopolitical tensions.
He cautions that Americas debt-fueled spending and rising interest rates could trigger a painful debt crisis.
For everyday Americans, this could mean higher borrowing costs, weaker job markets, and lower investment returns.
For the last couple of years, billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has been sounding alarms about the U.S. economy. In recent interviews and writings, the warnings have increased.
Dalio has cautioned that rising government debt, persistent inflation, and geopolitical rifts could converge into a perfect storm with significant consequences for both markets and ordinary households.
Dalio has repeatedly said that the U.S. governments debt burden is becoming unsustainable. Federal debt has climbed above $34 trillion, and higher interest rates mean that servicing that debt is increasingly expensive.
Were reaching a point where borrowing to finance deficits is no longer sustainable without consequences, he warned. Higher borrowing costs, he added, could crowd out private investment and reduce overall economic growth.
Inflation and geopolitical strains
Despite some signs of easing inflation in 2025, Dalio cautioned that the threat remains. He pointed to global supply chain realignments, deglobalization, and geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, as long-term inflationary pressures. In his view, the world is moving into a more fragmented era, which could make goods and capital more expensive and less available.
In an interview with Fortune Magazine, Dalio said he is a lone voice warning about the economy because others are remaining silent, fearing retaliation. However, ConsumerAffairs found some others who have voiced similar concerns lately.
A recent Business Insider commentary spotlighted consensus among expert economists:
Economist Ken Rogoff forecasts a debt crisis within four to five years due to rising rates and warns against complacency on the costs of debt.
Historian Niall Ferguson points out that when debt interest approaches defense spending levelsas seen in fiscal year 2024it signals growing financial vulnerability and waning investor confidence.
A Wall Street Journal analysis warned that the U.S. deficit has ballooned toward $2 trillion, exceeding sustainable norms. Without structural reforms, its analysis concludes that markets may be compelled to react with higher yields and diminished demand for Treasuries, leading to higher mortgage rates.
Impact on average Americans
For everyday Americans, Dalios warnings, should they materialize, could translate into real-life concerns:
Higher borrowing costs: Rising interest rates mean mortgages, car loans, and credit card debt are more expensive.
Job market uncertainty: Slower growth could limit hiring and wage gains, putting pressure on household budgets.
Weaker investment returns: Stocks and bonds may deliver lower returns in the coming years, challenging retirement savings and long-term financial planning.
Potential policy shifts: To manage its debt, the government may consider higher taxes or changes to entitlement programs, both of which would directly affect households.
Dalio advised investors and households to diversify their assets, manage risk carefully, and avoid overexposure to debt. He has long argued that resiliencewhether in personal finances, businesses, or national economiescomes from preparing for a range of scenarios, not just the most optimistic ones.
StopBox USA is recalling its AR-15 Chamber Lock Pro firearm locks due to a manufacturing defect that may allow the lock to be forcibly removed. This flaw could enable unauthorized or unintended use of the firearm, posing a risk of serious injury or death. The affected chamber locks were shipped between June 2 and July 15, 2025, and are made of anodized aluminum with red or black finishes.
No injuries have been reported. The devices were sold in stores and online for about $150.
The hazard
A defect in the chamber lock allows it to be forcibly removed, which can permit unauthorized or unintended access to the firearm. This poses a significant safety risk of injury or death.
What to do
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled AR-15 Chamber Lock Pro devices. Contact StopBox USA to arrange for a refund or replacement.
Company contact
StopBox USA can be reached toll-free at 877-919-4637 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, by email at support@stopboxusa.com, or online at stopboxusa.com/pages/stopbox-ar-15-chamber-lock-recall for more information.
URMYWO baby loungers in the grey feather style have been recalled after failing to meet mandatory infant sleep product safety standards. The loungers have side walls that are too short and a sleeping pad that is too thick, creating a suffocation risk. Infants may also fall or become entrapped due to an opening at the foot of the lounger. About 23,000 units were sold on Amazon between January 2024 and April 2025.
No injuries have been reported. The loungers were priced between $30 and $50.
The hazard
The product violates federal standards for infant sleep products. Short side walls, an overly thick pad and an opening at the foot of the lounger pose risks of suffocation, entrapment and falls.
What to do
Consumers should immediately stop using the URMYWO baby loungers and contact Pomona for a refund.
Company contact
Contact Pomona by email at urmyworecall@outlook.com for refund instructions.
Makita U.S.A. Inc. has recalled certain cordless grease guns and grease gun hoses due to a laceration hazard. The flexible hose may develop a hole and allow grease to eject during use, risking cuts to the user. Five laceration injuries have been reported globally, but none in the United States. The recall affects about 62,927 units sold between June 2020 and January 2025.
The affected grease guns have model numbers XPG01S1, XPG01SR1 and XPG01Z. Hoses with model numbers 191A79-9, 191A80-4, 191W59-7 and 191W58-9 are also included.
The hazard
A defect in the flexible hose allows grease to escape under pressure, posing a laceration risk.
What to do
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled grease guns and hoses. Contact Makita for a free replacement.
Company contact
Makita U.S.A., Inc. can be reached toll-free at 800-462-5482 from 8 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or by email at greasegunrecall@makitausa.com. More details are available at makitatools.com/recall.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers to immediately stop using Tajarly heated insoles due to a serious risk of burns and fire. The black insoles, which include a lithium-ion battery and remote control, may overheat and ignite even when switched off.
The defective insoles were sold on Amazon from July 2022 through July 2024.
The hazard
An internal battery defect can cause the insoles to overheat and catch fire, creating a burn and fire hazard.
What to do
Stop using the Tajarly heated insoles right away. Dispose of them according to local hazardous waste disposal procedures.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Aeiusny 400W and 500W portable power stations due to a risk of explosion and fire. The internal lithium-ion battery in these devices can ignite, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
These power stations were sold on Amazon from July 2016 to September 2022.
The hazard
A battery defect can cause the Aeiusny power stations to explode or catch fire, creating a severe risk to consumers.
What to do
CPSC urges consumers to stop using the affected power stations and dispose of them following local hazardous waste procedures.
Study finds PFAS treatment also cuts other toxic contaminants
Reductions seen in cancer-linked byproducts, nitrates and heavy metals
Smaller, rural communities lag behind in access to advanced systems
Water treatment systems designed to remove the toxic forever chemicals known as PFAS may provide far greater public health benefits than previously recognized, according to new research from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
A peer-reviewed study published in ACS ES&T Water shows that technologies like granular activated carbon, ion exchange and reverse osmosis not only reduce PFAS levels but also cut other hazardous contaminants from drinking water, including cancer-causing disinfection byproducts (DBPs), agricultural nitrates and heavy metals such as arsenic and uranium.
PFAS treatment isnt just about forever chemicals, said Sydney Evans, EWG senior science analyst and lead author of the study. Its also opening the door to improving water treatment across the board.
A potential game-changer
The study analyzed data from 19 U.S. utilities and the Environmental Protection Agencys national monitoring program. Researchers found that installing advanced PFAS treatment led to a 42% drop in trihalomethanes and a 50% reduction in haloacetic acids, both carcinogenic byproducts of water disinfection.
These kinds of reductions caused by PFAS filters are a game changer for public health, especially since where there are PFAS, there are always other chemicals, too, said EWG analyst Varun Subramaniam.
Environmental injustice
Despite the health benefits, access to advanced filtration remains uneven. Only 7% of very small water systems, serving fewer than 500 people, use the technology, compared with 28% of the largest utilities.
This is a textbook case of environmental injustice, Subramaniam said. The communities least able to afford advanced filtration often face the highest health risks.
EWG researchers urged policymakers to address inequities by boosting federal and state funding for small, under-resourced water systems.
Regulatory setbacks
The findings come amid controversy over the Environmental Protection Agencys recent moves to weaken limits on PFAS in drinking water and delay compliance deadlines, less than a year after new standards were finalized. Critics say the rollbacks could prolong harmful exposures, particularly in communities without access to advanced treatment.
This study exposes a dangerous blind spot in federal water policy, said Melanie Benesh, EWGs vice president of government affairs. Communities wouldnt just filter out PFAS, theyd be eliminating multiple toxic chemicals at the same time.
EWG also flagged gaps in national monitoring, arguing that inconsistent reporting prevents regulators from tracking co-occurring contaminants and evaluating treatment effectiveness.
Health risks of PFAS exposure
PFAS are known as forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected PFAS in the blood of 99% of Americans, including newborns.
Exposure has been linked to suppressed immune function, reduced vaccine effectiveness, cancer risks and developmental harms.
Advanced PFAS water treatment is a turning point, Evans said. When we fix one problem, we can solve several others. The opportunity to protect public health at scale is too big to ignore.
Coffee, eggs, and bacon saw the steepest year-over-year increases, with coffee up more than 22% compared to August 2024.
Salted butter and cookies experienced the sharpest annual declines, offering rare relief for shoppers.
Month-to-month shifts were modest, but bacon and organic eggs posted noticeable gains from July to August 2025.
Consumers are facing a mixed bag at the grocery store as price changes over the past 12 months highlight the volatility of household staples. The latest ConsumerAffairs Datasembly Shopping Cart Index, comparing August 2024 to August 2025 shows that while some items surged in cost, others eased, giving shoppers a patchwork of price pressures.
The biggest climbers: Coffee, eggs and bacon
The cost of breakfast staples rose sharply in August. The standout increase came from whole bean coffee (12 oz), which jumped from $11.86 in August 2024 to $14.50 in August 2025 a 22% spike. Coffees surge reflects ongoing supply chain disruptions and climate-related harvest challenges.
A dozen organic eggs also saw a substantial increase, rising from $5.38 to $6.45, a 20% jump year-over-year. This rise continues a trend tied to higher feed and distribution costs.
Bacon (16 oz) prices climbed from $8.12 to $8.82 in the same period, a nearly 9% increase, likely driven by persistent supply-side pressures in the pork industry.
Relief atcheckout: Butter and cookies slide
On the flip side, salted butter (1 lb) fell sharply, dropping from $6.23 in August 2024 to $5.34 in August 2025, a decline of over 14%. Dairy oversupply and easing production costs contributed to the decline.
Cookies (14.3 oz) showed one of the most dramatic changes, tumbling from $8.99 to $3.78, effectively cutting the cost by more than half. This drop may reflect discounting, reformulated product lines, or pricing corrections after a sharp spike the previous year.
Month-to-month movements
From July to August 2025, shifts were less dramatic overall. Still, bacon rose from $8.46 to $8.82 a 4.3% monthly gain while organic eggs climbed from $6.07 to $6.45, up about 6%.
Meanwhile, smaller declines were seen in pantry staples like pasta (down from $1.92 to $1.91) and potato chips (down from $4.04 to $4.02).
Despite sharp changes in individual products, the overall shopping cart cost dropped slightly from $152.69 in August 2024 to $151.90 in August 2025. That decline, however, may not feel like much relief to shoppers who are still paying significantly more for essentials like coffee, eggs, and bacon.
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