Google agreed to a $135 million class action settlement to resolve claims that Android devices transferred information to Google without user permission and consumed cellular data.
The settlement provides cash payments and requires Google to update Google Play Terms of Service, a Help Center page and Android setup screens and to disable a related Android setting so the transfers are disclosed and users are asked to consent.
Google $135 Million Settlement
Under the settlement, class members can receive a cash payment and each class member is expected to receive the same amount from the settlement fund while exact per-person payment figures are not available at this time, the amount any individual receives will depend on how many people participate and the amount each person paid for cellular data while using Android devices, Google has not admitted any wrongdoing, and any leftover funds after distribution may be redistributed to class members who were previously paid successfully or, if redistribution is not economically feasible, distributed to a court-approved organization rather than returned to Google.
Android Setup Screen Changes
The agreement requires Google to update its Google Play Terms of Service, a Help Center page and the setup screens shown to Android users so the conduct at issue is disclosed and users are asked to consent and Google will disable a related setting on Android devices, which means affected users should see an explicit disclosure and consent step during device setup or when setup screens are shown.
Android Background Transfer Allegations
Plaintiffs say Android devices sent information to Google in the background, including while devices were idle and not in use, and that those transfers could have been limited to Wi-Fi but instead proceeded over cellular data, which is the conduct the settlement resolves and which underlies the cash and non-monetary terms.
May 29, 2026 Exclusion Deadline
The settlement class covers individuals who used mobile devices running the Android operating system to access the internet through cellular data since Nov. 12, 2017 and the settlement website estimates approximately 100 million class members, no claim form is required so class members who do not exclude themselves will automatically receive settlement benefits while anyone who wants their payment delivered by direct deposit or another method must select their preferred payment method on the settlement website, those who wish to exclude themselves or object must do so by May 29, 2026, and the final approval hearing is scheduled for June 23, 2026, with the settlement also noted to benefit individuals who are not class members in the related Csupo v. Google LLC case if they meet the same device-and-date criteria.
One specific unanswered question is exactly how much each class member will receive and when payments will be distributed because the settlement states that exact payment amounts are not available at this time and it does not specify a payment schedule.
