Android owners: You can get a piece of Google’s $135 million data settlement

For years, Google has been accused of collecting data from Android phones without users’ consent. After a lawsuit in California that was settled for $314 million last year, a new settlement could mean payouts for another 100 million people.

A class-action lawsuit alleging that « Google caused Android mobile devices to transfer a variety of information to Google without users’ permission, consuming users’ cellular data, » is coming to an end. The two parties in Taylor v. Google LLC (PDF) agreed to a settlement and began working it out.

Without admitting fault, Google agreed to a preliminary settlement in January, committing to pay $135 million in damages. The settlement website is now live.

A final approval hearing won’t take place until June 23, when the court will hear objections and decide whether Google’s settlement is fair. The court will then decide whether to approve the $135 million settlement.

Meanwhile, if you are eligible and want to get paid as part of the deal, you can choose your preferred payment method on the official website. There you can find information about speaking at the court hearing on June 23 and how to recuse yourself or write to the court to object by May 29.

As part of the settlement, Google will update its Google Play terms of service to clarify that certain data transfers occur passively, even when you’re not using your Android device, and that cellular data can be relied upon when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi. This cannot always be disabled, but users will be asked to consent to this when setting up their device.

Google will also stop collecting data completely when the « allow background data usage » option is turned off.

Who can be part of the Google data agreement?

To join the Taylor v. Google LLC settlement, you must meet four qualifications:

1. Be a living, individual human being in the US.
2. You have been using an Android mobile device with a cellular data plan.
3. Have used the aforementioned device at any time between November 12, 2017 and the date the agreement received final approval.
4. You are not a class member in Csupo v. Google LLC, which is similar but specifically for California residents.

To set up your payment information on the official settlement website, you’ll need a notification ID and confirmation code that settlement administrators have mailed or emailed to eligible claimants.

The last approval hearing is June 23, so you can add your payment method until then. The date and time of the hearing are subject to change and any updates will be posted on the settlement website.

If you choose to do nothing and you’re eligible, you’ll still be issued a settlement payment, but not choosing a payment method may increase your risk of not getting paid.

Even if you didn’t receive a notification letter or email, you may still be entitled to a refund from Google. To find out, you can call the toll-free number for information on 1-844-655-4255 or email info@FederalCellularClassAction.com. You may also send a letter requesting more information to: Federal Cellular Class Action, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

How much can I get paid by Google?

It is not currently known exactly how much each member of the settlement class will receive, but the maximum is $100. Payments will be distributed after final court approval and resolution of all appeals.

After all administrative, tax and attorney fees have been paid, the settlement administrator will attempt to pay each member an equal amount. If funds remain after payments are sent and it is economically feasible to do so, they will be redistributed to members who have previously been successfully paid. If this is not economically feasible, the funds will go to an organization approved by the court.