Do You Own an Android Phone? Claim a Part of Google’s $135M Data Harvesting Settlement Soon
Do You Own an Android Phone? Claim a Part of Google’s $135M Data Harvesting Settlement Soon
Publish Date: 2026-05-24 08:57:00
Source Domain: www.cnet.com
If you have an Android phone and you live in the US, you may be eligible to claim part of an upcoming $135 million settlement payout. The case centers on the allegation (PDF) that Google “effectively forces users to subsidize its surveillance by secretly programming Android devices to constantly transmit user information” using the very same cellular data that customers purchased themselves.
The class-action lawsuit Joseph Taylor v. Google (PDF) alleges that, starting in 2017, Google updated Android OS to automatically collect cellular data via carriers, with no way for users to opt out. The lawsuit alleges that this data collection occurred even when people took steps such as disabling location tracking or closing apps.
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The lawsuit also makes another significant allegation: that Google’s data collection practices constituted 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 any wrongdoing, and the court has not decided if 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.
The official settlement website is live now, but payment is subject to the court’s final approval meeting. This meeting is currently scheduled for June 23. The meeting will confirm the payment sum, allocate attorneys’ fees and create a distribution plan to make sure the money gets to eligible class members. Any changes to the scheduling of the final approval meeting…
