Jury Orders Google to Pay $3.146 Billion for Android Data Misuse

In a significant legal development, a jury in California's Santa Clara Superior Court has ruled that Google must pay over $3.146 billion in damages to Android users in the state for misusing their data without permission. The lawsuit, initiated in 2019, alleges that Google collected data from idle Android devices without user consent, consuming mobile data in the process. The data collected was used for targeted advertising and other commercial purposes, according to the plaintiffs.

The jury agreed with the plaintiffs' argument that Google's actions violated user rights by sending and receiving information from mobile devices without authorization. The compensation will be distributed proportionally to California residents who used Android devices between January 1, 2014, and July 1, 2025. Preliminary estimates suggest that each user could receive between $12 and $15 in compensation, with the exact amount depending on the duration of device use and the volume of data transmitted.

Google has expressed disagreement with the verdict, stating that the services in question are crucial for the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices. The company plans to appeal the decision, asserting that users had agreed to the data transfers as outlined in Google's terms of service and privacy policy. Google further argued that these practices did not harm any Android users.

Despite Google's stance, the company faces similar allegations from other states. Another lawsuit, representing the remaining 49 states, is set to go to trial in April 2026, with identical claims. This ongoing legal battle highlights the increasing scrutiny over data privacy and the potential consequences for tech giants that fail to comply with user consent and data protection regulations.