Google - Lawsuit
Executive Summary
Google agreed to pay $135 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it collected data from Android devices without user permission and consumed cellular data in the process, affecting approximately 100 million US users who owned Android phones between November 2017 and the settlement's final approval date. While not admitting fault, Google will clarify its data collection practices in updated terms of service and stop collecting data when users toggle off "allow background data usage....
What Happened
Google agreed to pay $135 million to settle a class action lawsuit (Taylor v. Google LLC) alleging it collected data from Android devices without user permission and consumed cellular data in the process. The lawsuit claims this occurred from November 2017 through the settlement's final approval date, affecting approximately 100 million US Android users with cellular data plans. While not admitting fault, Google committed to updating its Google Play terms of service to clarify passive data transfers and to fully stop collecting data when users toggle off the "allow background data usage" option.
Who Is Affected
Approximately 100 million US residents who owned and used Android mobile devices with cellular data plans at any time between November 12, 2017, and the settlement's final approval date are eligible for compensation. California residents covered under a separate lawsuit (Csupo v. Google LLC, which resulted in a $314 million settlement) are excluded from this particular settlement. Users must be living individuals to qualify for payment.
Why It Matters
This settlement represents one of the largest class actions involving background data collection on mobile devices, highlighting ongoing concerns about how tech companies collect user information without explicit consent. The case establishes that even when users believe data collection is disabled, companies may continue harvesting information and consuming users' paid cellular data. The required policy changes set a precedent for greater transparency about passive data collection practices that occur even when devices are not actively in use.
What You Should Do
If you used an Android device with a cellular data plan between November 2017 and now, visit the official settlement website to register your preferred payment method using the Notice ID and Confirmation Code from any notification you received. Even without a notification, check the website to verify your eligibility. If you wish to object to the settlement terms or exclude yourself, submit your objection or exclusion request by May 29, 2025, before the June 23 final approval hearing. Review your Android device's background data usage settings and consider whether to restrict apps from using cellular data in the background.
Summary generated from verified sources and reviewed before publication. How we summarize.