Google has agreed to a proposed $135 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging improper collection of cellular data from Android users. The case, filed in San Jose, California, claimed that Google gathered users’ cellular data without consent, even when Google apps were closed, location sharing was disabled, and device screens were locked. Under the settlement, eligible Android users could receive recovery payments of up to $100 each. According to court filings, the class includes individuals who used an Android device as early as November 12, 2017. Google agreed to the settlement while maintaining that it did not violate user privacy.
As part of the agreement, Google will also introduce changes to its data practices. The company will make it easier for users to stop cellular data transfers, request consent for data transfers during device setup, and disclose such transfers more clearly in Google Play’s terms of service. In court filings, Google said it “denied wrongdoing” related to the allegations but chose to settle the matter. The agreement follows another recent legal resolution involving Google, in which the company agreed to settle claims that its Assistant recorded users without permission. If approved by the court, the settlement will provide compensation to affected users while requiring Google to adjust how it manages and communicates cellular data use on Android devices.
