Google Settles Android Data Privacy Lawsuit for $135M
Google agreed to settle a class action alleging unauthorized Android data transfers for $135 million.
Why it matters: This settlement impacts millions of Android users and requires clearer consent for mobile data use, critical for compliance officers and legal counsel overseeing privacy practices.
- Google will pay $135 million to settle a class action alleging unauthorized data transfers from Android devices.
- The settlement applies to U.S. Android users with cellular data plans from Nov 12, 2017, until final court approval.
- Eligible users receive automatic payments capped at $100 each after legal and administrative deductions.
- Google will update Android setup and Google Play terms to disclose data collection and obtain explicit user consent for mobile data use.
Google has settled a class action lawsuit alleging that Android devices transmitted user data over cellular networks—i.e., mobile internet connections—without user consent, even when apps were closed or location services disabled.
The suit covered roughly 100 million U.S. residents who used Android devices with cellular plans from November 12, 2017, through the court’s final approval. Payments will be distributed automatically to eligible users, with a maximum individual payout of $100 after deductions for legal fees and administrative costs.
As part of the settlement, Google committed to improving transparency by updating the Android device setup flow and Google Play terms. These updates will clearly disclose data collection practices and require users to explicitly consent to data transfers over cellular networks.
The June 23, 2026 final approval hearing concluded, and the court is now reviewing the settlement. Precise timelines for payment distribution and rollout of new disclosures have not been publicly announced.
More details are available in the Courthouse News report and the Android Authority analysis.
By the numbers:
- $135 million — total settlement amount
- 100 million — U.S. Android users covered from Nov 2017 to 2026
- $100 — maximum payout per eligible user after fees
Yes, but: The exact schedule for distributing payments and implementing updated disclosures remains unclear as the court completes its review.
What's next: The court's approval decision and subsequent rollout of updated Android setup disclosures are expected later in 2026.