Google Agrees to $135 Million Settlement in Android Data Collection Case

Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google has agreed to pay $135 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of improperly collecting cellular data from Android users without adequate consent.

The proposed settlement was filed Tuesday in federal court in San Jose, California, and remains subject to judicial approval. The case covers users of Android-powered mobile devices dating back to November 2017.

Under the terms of the agreement, eligible class members will receive payments from the settlement fund. Google will also implement updates to its Google Play terms of service and revise the initial setup screens on new Android devices to provide clearer disclosures about how cellular data is used and to obtain user consent.

Plaintiffs alleged that Android systems continued to transmit cellular data even when users closed apps, disabled location settings, or locked their devices. The lawsuit claimed the data collection benefited Google’s internal product development and advertising systems while shifting data costs onto consumers. Google denied any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

“We are pleased to resolve this case, which mischaracterized standard industry practices that keep Android safe,” said Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda. He added that the company’s updates are intended to improve transparency and better explain how Google Play services interact with cellular networks, without materially changing how Android functions.

The settlement does not require Google to admit liability, but it reflects ongoing scrutiny of data privacy practices across the mobile technology industry as regulators and consumers push for greater clarity around data use and consent.

If approved, the agreement would close one of several legal challenges facing major technology companies over consumer data handling and disclosure practices.

About Google

Google is a global technology company and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL), offering products and services across search, advertising, cloud computing, mobile operating systems, and artificial intelligence. Its Android operating system powers billions of devices worldwide, while Google Play serves as a central platform for apps, digital content, and services. Google continues to invest heavily in privacy, security, and transparency initiatives across its ecosystem.

At the time of publishing, Stocks.News holds positions in companies mentioned in the article.