July 1 (Reuters) –
A jury in San Jose, California, said on Tuesday that Google misused customers’ cell phone data and must pay more than $314.6 million to Android smartphone users in the state, according to an attorney for the plaintiffs.
The jury agreed with the plaintiffs that Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab was liable for sending and receiving information from the devices without permission while they were idle, causing what the lawsuit had called “mandatory and unavoidable burdens shouldered by Android device users for Google’s benefit.”
- Legal Verdict against Google for Data Misuse: A jury in California found Google liable for misusing customers’ cell phone data without permission and ordered the company to pay over $314.6 million to affected Android users.
- Google’s Defense and Intention to Appeal: Google stated that it would appeal the verdict, arguing that the decision misconstrues the importance of certain services for the security and performance of Android devices.
- Nature of the Lawsuit and Allegations: The plaintiffs contended that Google collected data from idle Android phones for targeted advertising, which they argued consumed users’ cellular data without proper consent.
- Impact and Significance of the Verdict: The verdict underscores concerns over data privacy and misuse, and is seen by the plaintiffs as a significant acknowledgment of Google’s misconduct.
- Ongoing Legal Actions Against Google: In addition to this case, a separate federal lawsuit is scheduled for trial in April 2026, covering similar claims for Android users across the rest of the United States.
Google spokesperson
Jose Castaneda said in a statement that the company would appeal, and that the verdict “misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices.”
The plaintiffs’ attorney Glen Summers said the verdict “forcefully vindicates the merits of this case and reflects the seriousness of Google’s misconduct.”
The plaintiffs filed the class action in state court in 2019 on behalf of an estimated 14 million Californians. They argued that Google collected information from idle phones running its Android operating system for company uses like targeted advertising, consuming Android users’ cellular data at their expense.
Google told
the court that no Android users were harmed by the data transfers and that users consented to them in the company’s terms of service and privacy policies.
Another group filed a separate lawsuit in federal court in San Jose, bringing the same claims against Google on behalf of Android users in the other 49 states. That case is scheduled for trial in April 2026.
