Google settlement live

Millions of Android users in the United States can now choose a payout method in a $135 million settlement over claims that Google quietly used cellular data in the background, even when phones were sitting idle. The live claims step opened this week, with a final court hearing scheduled for June 23, 2026. (cnet.com) The lawsuit says Android devices sent information to Google over paid mobile data without clear permission, including when the screen was off and no app was open. Google denies wrongdoing, but agreed to settle instead of taking the case through a full trial. (nbcchicago.com) This case is called Taylor v. Google LLC, and it covers people in the United States who used an Android phone with a cellular data plan on or after November 12, 2017. One big carveout is California residents already covered by a separate case called Csupo v. Google LLC. (cnet.com, androidauthority.com) The settlement is not just a money pot. Google also agreed to change its Google Play terms, update Android setup screens, and explain more clearly that some data transfers can happen passively and may use cellular service when Wi-Fi is unavailable. (cnet.com) Google also agreed to make the “allow background data usage” switch do more than it allegedly did before. Under the settlement terms, turning that setting off must fully stop the covered background data collection. (cnet.com) The payout is unlikely to be dramatic because the class is huge. CNET and NBC Chicago both report the settlement could cover about 100 million Android users, and any payment comes out only after legal fees, administration costs, and taxes are deducted. (cnet.com, nbcchicago.com) That is why some reports mention a ceiling of $100 while also warning that real payments will probably be prorated down. If tens of millions of people qualify and respond, the average share could end up looking more like a small refund than a windfall. (androidauthority.com, nbcchicago.com) The practical detail is simple: many eligible users do not need a traditional claim form, but they do need to pick how they want to be paid. Reported options include PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, bank transfer through Automated Clearing House, or a virtual Mastercard. (androidauthority.com) People who received a notice should have a notice identification number and confirmation code by email or mail. People who are unsure whether they are in the class can contact the settlement administrator, and objections or requests to opt out are due by May 29, 2026. (nbcchicago.com, cnet.com) The odd part of the story is how small each payment may be compared with the size of the company and the size of the class. The bigger consequence may be that Google now has to spell out, on paper and on setup screens, when an Android phone can still talk to Google even when the person holding it thinks it is doing nothing at all. (cnet.com, nbcchicago.com)