Google has been ordered by a jury in San Jose, California, to pay more than $314.6 million to Android smartphone users in the state for misusing customers’ cell phone data.
The jury found Alphabet’s Google liable for unauthorized sending and receiving of information from devices while they were idle, leading to burdens on Android device users.
What we’re watching: Google plans to appeal the verdict, with a spokesperson stating that the decision misunderstands the critical services that ensure the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices.
Driving the news: The class action lawsuit was filed in 2019 by plaintiffs representing approximately 14 million Californians, who argued that Google collected data from idle phones running the Android operating system for purposes such as targeted advertising, resulting in the consumption of users’ cellular data.
- Google defended its actions by stating that no Android users were harmed by the data transfers, and that users had consented to them through the company’s terms of service and privacy policies.
- Another lawsuit with similar claims has been filed in federal court in San Jose on behalf of Android users in other states, with the trial scheduled for April 2026.
