Google has agreed to pay ₹66 crore to resolve claims that it engaged in dishonest advertising practises in Texas. Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, announced the settlement on Friday.
Google, most known for its search engine and ad services, also produces Android mobile operating systems and controls YouTube. However, the company has been charged with breaking both consumer protection and antitrust rules, leading to two antitrust cases from the federal government.
Paxton's office claimed that Google hired radio hosts to promote the Pixel 4 smartphone even though the company had refused to provide them access to one of the devices. In his comments after the settlement, the attorney general emphasised the need for accurate advertising.
"If Google is going to advertise in Texas, their statements better be true," Paxton said. "In this case, the company made statements that were blatantly false, and our settlement holds Google accountable for lying to Texans for financial gain."