Five U.S. privacy groups have opposed a proposed $8.5 million settlement with Google in a class-action lawsuit over search privacy, as it fails to require Google to change its business practices, they said. Google was sued in October 2010 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The Internet giant allegedly transmitted user search queries to third parties without their knowledge or consent in order to enhance advertising revenue and profitability. Google shares search queries "via referrer headers," according to a court document.