California, other states settle with Google, iHeartMedia over misleading cell phone ads

California and several other states have settled with Google and iHeartMedia related to misleading radio advertisements about the Pixel 4, a Google cell phone.

Also part of the settlements was Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and the Federal Trade Commission.

The complaints alleged that Google paid radio personalities to endorse and talk about their personal experiences using the Pixel 4, which at the time wasn’t available and many of the radio DJs had not used it.

The ads, aired in late 2019 and early 2020, ran more than 23,000 times across 10 media markets, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Under the settlement, Google will pay $9 million and iHeartMedia, the largest owner of radio stations in the nation, will pay $400,000.

Some smaller radio stations also ran the ads.

Of the settlement money, California will receive nearly $3 million. The money will be split between the state and Alameda County, where the case was filed, and be used to enforce consumer protection laws, a spokeswoman for Bonta said.

Bonta emphasized that asking DJs to share personal experiences about a product they had not used is misleading and a violation of state consumer protection laws.

Google will also be required to regularly report to California about its compliance with the settlement.