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Google Agrees to $135 Million Settlement in Android Cellular Data Class Action Lawsuit
Google has agreed to a $135 million settlement to resolve a federal class action lawsuit alleging unauthorized use of Android users' cellular data. The case, Taylor et al. v. Google LLC, claims that Android devices transmitted data to Google servers without adequate disclosure, even when idle or on Wi-Fi.
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Google has agreed to pay $135 million to settle a federal class action lawsuit accusing the company of using Android users' paid cellular data without proper disclosure or consent. The lawsuit, titled Taylor et al. v.
Google LLC, was filed in federal court. Court filings and official settlement notices detail the agreement. The complaint alleged that Android devices sent data to Google servers over cellular networks when phones were idle, apps were closed, and Wi-Fi was available.
Plaintiffs claimed these background transfers consumed users' paid cellular data, which primarily benefited Google. The case raised issues related to privacy and consumer protection. Google denied the allegations, and no court has ruled on the merits of the claims.
The company agreed to the settlement to avoid prolonged litigation, as is common in large technology cases. The agreement resolves the claims without an admission of wrongdoing.
The settlement establishes a $135 million non-reversionary fund, meaning undistributed funds will not revert to Google.
Deductions from the fund will cover court-approved attorneys' fees, litigation expenses, service awards for named plaintiffs, and settlement administration costs. The remaining amount will be distributed pro-rated to eligible class members. Settlement administrators estimate individual payments could reach up to $100, depending on the number of claimants and the net fund size.
With approximately 100 million potential eligible Android users nationwide, most payments are expected to be smaller than the maximum. A final approval hearing will determine whether the federal judge approves the agreement and authorizes distributions.
individuals include U.S. residents who used an Android device on a cellular data network at any point from November 12, 2017, through the date of final court approval. California residents are excluded due to coverage under a separate earlier settlement for similar claims.
