Consumer Watchdog has won the right to oppose the Federal Trade Commission’s $22.5 billion challenge to a settlement with Google on privacy matters, the group said Wednesday.

A U.S. District Court judge said that the group could be granted “friend of the court” status so that it may file a brief opposing the settlement. Consumer Watchdog objects to language in the settlement that allows Google to deny any wrongdoing.

In a statement, John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project director, said: “Allowing this settlement undercuts the entire regulatory process. Companies and their executives must be held accountable when they violate legal agreements.”