Google to Pay $135 Million to Settle Android Cellular Data Transfer Class Action
Google has reached a $135 million settlement to resolve allegations that its Android operating system caused mobile devices to transfer data to Google servers over cellular networks without user permission.
The proposed agreement stems from the lawsuit Taylor et al. v. Google LLC, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Plaintiffs claimed Android performed background data transfers to Google even when devices sat idle, consuming paid cellular data that could have been limited to Wi-Fi connections.
Google has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to the payout to end the case.
The settlement covers approximately 100 million U.S. residents who used an Android device with a cellular data plan at any point from November 12, 2017, through the date of final court approval.
It excludes anyone who is a member of the separate California state-court class in Csupo v. Google LLC.
No traditional claim form is required.
Eligible class members who do not opt out will automatically receive a payment from the net settlement fund after attorneys’ fees, administration costs, service awards and taxes are deducted.
Payments will be made electronically and are capped at $100 per person.
Exact amounts will depend on the final number of participants and will be distributed equally among valid class members.
To ensure receipt of funds, class members must visit the official settlement website at federalcellularclassaction.com and select a preferred payment method, which includes PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, ACH direct deposit or a virtual prepaid card.
Those who take no action remain eligible but may not receive payment if the administrator cannot process it without a chosen method.
The court has set a final approval hearing for June 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PDT.
Objections or requests to exclude oneself from the class must be filed by May 29, 2026. Payments will issue only after the judge grants final approval and any appeals are resolved.
As part of the agreement, Google will update its Google Play terms of service to provide clearer disclosure about passive data transfers and will prompt users for consent during device setup.
The company will also respect settings that disable background data usage.
The settlement resolves the federal claims without further litigation.
Eligible Android users who believe they qualify can check the official site for personalized notice details or contact the administrator directly.
