Google has agreed to pay $135 million to settle a class action that accused the company of using Android devices to send information to Google without user permission, including while phones were idle and not in use. The settlement covers consumers who used mobile devices running Android to access the internet through cellular data networks since Nov. 12, 2017.
The settlement website says the case affects about 100 million class members, and eligible users can receive cash payments. Exact amounts will vary depending on how many people take part and how much each class member paid for cellular data while using Android devices. No claim form is required, and anyone who does not exclude themselves will automatically receive settlement benefits.
Google said it has not admitted any wrongdoing, but agreed to the $135 million class action settlement to resolve the allegations. The company will also update its Google Play Terms of Service, a page in its Help Center and the setup screens shown to Android users during device setup to disclose the conduct at issue and ask users to consent to it. Google will also disable a related setting on Android devices.
The case turned on a simple accusation with broad reach: that Android devices were transferring information to Google in the background, consuming cellular data even when users were not actively using them. That claim is what drove the settlement, and it is also what the company now has to address in public-facing terms and setup screens.
People who want to object to the deal or opt out have until May 29, 2026, and the final approval hearing is scheduled for June 23, 2026. If money remains after payments are made, the settlement administrator may redistribute it to class members who were previously paid successfully. If that is not economically feasible, the rest will go to a court-approved organization, not back to Google.
