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By Gabe Whisnant
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Google agreed to resolve a federal class action lawsuit that accused the company of using Android users’ paid cellular data without adequate disclosure or consent, according to court filings and official settlement notices.
The case, Taylor et al. v. Google LLC, alleged that Android devices transmitted data to Google servers over cellular networks even when phones were idle, apps were closed and Wi‑Fi connections were available.
Plaintiffs argued that those background transfers consumed cellular data that users paid for through their mobile carriers and primarily benefited Google, raising privacy and consumer protection concerns. Google denied the allegations, and no court ruled on the merits of the claims.
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As is common in large technology cases, Google agreed to settle to avoid prolonged litigation. The settlement resolves the claims without an admission of wrongdoing and includes updates to certain Android disclosures related to background data use and user consent.
Newsweek has reached out to Google via email on Tuesday evening for comment.
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How Much Did Google Agree to Pay?
Under the settlement terms, Google agreed to pay $135 million into a non‑reversionary settlement fund, meaning any money not distributed to class members will not return to the company. From that total, court‑approved attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses, service awards for named plaintiffs and settlement administration costs will be deducted.
The remaining funds will be distributed to eligible class members on a pro‑rated basis. Settlement administrators have said individual payments could reach up to $100, but the actual amount each person receives will depend on how many users qualify and the final size of the net settlement fund. Given the large number of potential claimants, estimated at about 100 million Android users nationwide, most payments are expected to be smaller than the maximum.
The settlement is subject to a final approval hearing, at which a federal judge will determine whether to approve the agreement and authorize payment distribution.
Who Is Eligible for the Settlement?
The settlement generally applies to 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, according to the official settlement website. California residents are excluded because they were covered by a separate, earlier settlement involving similar claims.
Most eligible users do not need to submit a traditional claim form. Instead, class members are expected to receive a payment election notice that allows them to select how they want to be paid. Approved payout methods listed in official materials include PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, ACH transfer or a virtual prepaid card.
Additional eligibility details, deadlines and official updates are available through the settlement administrator’s website, which serves as the authoritative source for participation and payment information.
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