Fine imposed on Google for tracking Android users without obtaining prior approval, amounting to $314.6 million.
In a groundbreaking legal battle, Google is facing the consequences of collecting personal data from inactive Android phones without explicit user consent. The case, initially filed in 2019, came to a head in San Jose, California, where a jury ruled in favour of the plaintiffs, ordering Google to pay over $314.6 million in damages to approximately 14 million Android users in the state.
The lawsuit accused Google of routinely sending and receiving data from devices, even when they were not in use, a practice that allegedly violated user privacy and contractual expectations. The data collected was primarily used to support Google's targeted advertising business.
The plaintiffs argued that Google could have limited data transmission to Wi-Fi networks but instead allowed it over cellular connections, leading to unintended consumption of users’ mobile data. For instance, a Samsung Galaxy S7 with default settings was found to send and receive nearly 9 MB of cellular data per day, mostly communicating with Google services, even when dormant or with apps closed.
Google, however, defended its data collection practices, stating that they are essential for Android device security and performance. The company maintains that users had agreed to the data collection through its terms of service and privacy policies. Despite this, Google has announced its intention to appeal the decision.
This case marks a significant milestone in the ongoing debate about data collection and user consent. It comes amidst growing scrutiny of Google's privacy practices, with similar class-action lawsuits having been filed in federal court in San Jose on behalf of Android users in the remaining 49 US states.
The verdict serves as a strong message, according to Glen Summers, the plaintiffs' principal lawyer, who described it as a vindication of the merits of the case. If the reports are believed to be true, the case for the remaining states is set to go into trial in April 2026.
This legal dispute adds to Google's existing privacy concerns, with prior settlements over similar issues in states like Texas[1][2][3][4]. As the case progresses, it will be interesting to see how Google navigates these legal challenges and addresses the concerns of its users moving forward.
[1] [Google Faces $5 Billion Fine Over Android App Store Monopoly](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/technology/google-antitrust-android.html) [2] [Google Settles with 40 States Over Location Tracking](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/08/27/google-location-tracking-settlement/) [3] [Google Fined $170 Million for Violating Children's Privacy](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/technology/google-childrens-privacy.html) [4] [Google to Pay $11.2 Million to Settle Texas Privacy Lawsuit](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-privacy-settlement/google-to-pay-11-2-million-to-settle-texas-privacy-lawsuit-idUSKBN25G207)
The case against Google for collecting personal data without explicit user consent has expanded, with the company now facing potential damages worth billions across all states in the US due to allegations of violating privacy and contractual expectations. This legal dispute, which involves Google's practice of gathering data even on inactive devices, is part of a broader conversation about technology, personal-finance, and user consent in the digital age.