GoKawiilAre you one of the millions of American Android users who could receive a payment from Google's $135 million lawsuit settlement? It affects people who've had Android phones going back nearly a decade, but you'll want to sign up for a claim fast, because payments may not be guaranteed after June 23, 2026.
This class action lawsuit Joseph Taylor v. Google (PDF) claims Google "effectively forces users to subsidize its surveillance by secretly programming Android devices to constantly transmit user information," which means the Android OS was automatically sending Google user data from their carriers, without users knowing or being able to opt out. According to the lawsuit, this surveillance occurred even when people shut down apps or disabled their location tracking.
The lawsuit also makes another significant allegation: that Google's data-collection practices constitute a crime called conversion. Conversion occurs when one party takes property from another with the intent to deprive them of it. No prior conversion case has ever settled for a sum as large as $135 million.
Google has denied wrongdoing, and the court has not ruled whether the company violated any laws. Regardless, Google has agreed to settle with class members, and the court has preliminarily approved the settlement payment.
"We are pleased to resolve this case, which mischaracterized standard industry practices that keep Android safe. We're providing additional disclosures to give people more information about how our services work," said Google spokesperson José Castañeda.
Where do I go to file my claim?
You'll need info from a letter or email you should have received to sign up for a claim. Tyler Lacoma/CNET
The official settlement website is live now, but payment is subject to the court's final approval meeting. Note that you will need to submit a Notice ID, which you should have received in a letter or email if you're eligible.
The final approval is currently scheduled for June 23. The meeting will confirm the payment amount, allocate attorneys' fees, and create a distribution plan to ensure the money reaches eligible class members. Any changes to the scheduling of the final approval meeting will be reflected on the settlement website.
If you fit all of the criteria to be a class member in this case, you're automatically eligible to receive a part of the settlement payment sometime after the final approval hearing. But you're not guaranteed to receive any money unless you select a preferred method of payment on the settlement website by June 23.
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