Google Settles Android Privacy Lawsuit for $135 Million

Google has agreed to pay $135 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging unauthorized data collection from Android users. The settlement, filed in federal court in San Jose, California, addresses claims that the company programmed its mobile operating system to transmit cellular data without consent—even when devices were idle or settings disabled.

Plaintiffs demonstrated Android devices sent persistent 'pings,' consuming users' paid data plans. While denying wrongdoing, Google will compensate eligible users up to $100 each for devices used since November 2017. The case reframed cellular data as property, with attorneys arguing carriers sell finite allocations like 10GB or 20GB monthly packages.

This settlement avoids a potentially costlier trial, marking another chapter in Big Tech's ongoing privacy reckoning. The outcome underscores growing legal recognition of digital assets—whether data allowances or cryptocurrencies—as protected economic commodities.