2 years late: Texas unexpectedly sues Google over misleading Pixel 4 ads

The Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Google. And it concerns not the new flagships Pixel 6, but the 2019 smartphone - Pixel 4.

What happened?

So, Google is accused of dishonest advertising on the radio: the company allegedly ordered an advertisement for a new smartphone at that time, but at that time it had not yet been released, so the radio hosts could not test it.

The lawsuit alleges that Google required advertisers to talk about their positive personal experience of using the gadget, with "Google requiring the recording and broadcast of advertisements using prepared and misleading language" even after iHeartMedia reported that such methods were against the Law Texas on Consumer Protection Against Fraudulent Trade Practices.

Texas AG reports that ads were shown 2,405 times between October 28 and December 2, 2019. During that time, the lawsuit alleges, Google never provided smartphones to any of the eight radio hosts who recorded "personalized" messages about their use. iHeartMedia emphasizes that "this ongoing pattern of behavior demonstrates Google's flagrant disregard for truthful and accurate advertising in marketing and selling its products."

The applicant requires the company to pay a small fine - no more than $10,000. Google declined to comment on the situation.

A source: AndroidCentral