Google settlement could see $100 in $135M payout for customers
Google settlement could see $100 in $135M payout for customers
Michelle Del Rey and James Powel, USA TODAYMon, February 16, 2026 at 8:53 PM UTC
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The Google logo is seen on the Google house at CES 2024, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. January 10, 2024
Android users are poised to anywhere between $100 to $135 million as part of two new Google settlements.
Android users accused Google of programming its Android operating system to collect their cellular data without permission in a class action lawsuit filed in federal court in the Northern District of California. The settlement requires a judge's approval before it can move forward.
Another lawsuit filed in the same court accused Google of enabling its voice-activated assistant to spy inappropriately on users. The settlement as part of that lawsuit also needs to be approved by a judge.
Google has denied wrongdoing in both lawsuits.
"We are pleased to resolve this case, which mischaracterized standard industry practices that keep Android safe," José Castañeda, Google spokesperson, previously told USA TODAY about the Android case.
If approved, the payments could result in $100 paid out to each class member. The proposed settlement was filed in court on Jan. 27.
What was Google accused of?
Google is accused of collecting cellular data from Android users that the company allegedly purchased from mobile carriers. The data was allegedly collected even when users had their Google apps closed, their screens locked or had disabled location-sharing, the lawsuit alleges.
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As a result, users saw more targeted ads they claim stemmed from the collected data. The ads amounted to "conversion," the lawsuit alleges, which is an attempt to assert control over one party by taking the other's property.
The Google Assistant settlement accuses the company of illegally recording and sharing private conversations after the feature was activated for targeted advertising.
The Google logo is seen on the Google house at CES 2024, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. January 10, 2024
The feature is activated by phrases like "Hey Google" or "Okay Google."
That settlement was filed on Jan. 23 and applies to users who purchased Google devices since May 18, 2016, court documents previously reviewed by USA TODAY reveal.
Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle the case, but the settlement still needs to be approved.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Android users could get up to $100 in $135M Google settlement
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