Android users may get $135M payout
Reports say a proposed $135 million settlement in Taylor v. Google LLC could entitle as many as 100 million Android users to payments after allegations that Android devices sent cellular data without consent since 2017. Guidance is circulating about how affected users can check eligibility and claim a share of the settlement. (independent.co.uk, attackofthefanboy.com)
A proposed $135 million settlement could send payments to United States Android users who used cellular data on their phones after November 12, 2017. (classaction.org) The case is Taylor v. Google LLC in federal court in Northern California, and the court notice says the class covers people in the United States who used an Android device with a cellular data plan from November 12, 2017 until final approval. California residents in a similar case, Csupo v. Google LLC, are excluded from this settlement class. (classaction.org) Plaintiffs alleged that Android devices sent information to Google over cellular networks without permission, using paid data even when phones were idle. Google denies wrongdoing, but agreed in January 2026 to settle for $135 million, subject to court approval. (news.bloomberglaw.com, classaction.org) The settlement website is live, and the court notice says class members who want to be paid should select a payment method there. The deadline to exclude yourself or object is May 29, 2026, and the final approval hearing is set for June 23, 2026. (classaction.org, cnet.com) The exact payout is not fixed because each person gets a pro rata share of the net fund after fees, costs, and administration are deducted. CNET reported the payment for any one class member is capped at $100. (news.bloomberglaw.com, cnet.com) The lawsuit has been running since 2020, and it gained force after the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit revived the conversion claim on February 28, 2024. The appellate ruling said the plaintiffs had adequately alleged that their cellular data could count as property for that claim. (law.justia.com, news.bloomberglaw.com) The proposed deal also requires Google to change disclosures around Google Play and background data use. Bloomberg Law reported that Google must update terms and screens to disclose the practice and obtain express consent, while CNET reported Google will also stop collecting data when the “allow background data usage” setting is switched off. (news.bloomberglaw.com, cnet.com) For Android users, the immediate question is not whether a check is in the mail yet, but whether the court approves the deal on June 23 and whether a payment method is on file before then. If approval goes through, payments will come from the settlement fund rather than from any finding that Google admitted liability. (classaction.org, cnet.com)
