$314.6 Million Verdict: Google Guilty of Android Data Misuse

Google has been found guilty of misusing customer cellphone data by a California jury, which ordered the company to pay more than $314.6 million to Android smartphone users in the state. The verdict specifically cited Google’s liability for sending and receiving information from idle devices without permission, a practice that unjustly benefited the company. This ruling underscores the growing importance of digital rights.
The class action, filed in state court in 2019, represented approximately 14 million Californians. The plaintiffs argued that Google collected data from inactive Android phones for its own corporate uses, such as targeted advertising, leading to users bearing the cost of their cellular data. This formed the core of their legal complaint.
Google has announced its intention to appeal the judgment. Jose Castaneda, a company spokesperson, stated that the verdict “misunderstand services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices.” Google’s appeal will likely center on the technical necessity of these data flows.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Glen Summers praised the verdict, calling it a “forceful vindication of the merits of this case and reflects the seriousness of Google’s misconduct.” This significant case could have lasting implications for data privacy regulations. A separate federal lawsuit, bringing similar claims on behalf of Android users in the other 49 states, is scheduled for trial in April 2026.