San Jose: A jury in San Jose, California, ruled that Google must pay over $314.6 million in damages to Android smartphone users in the state, after finding the company guilty of misusing customer data.
The case, filed as a class action in 2019, alleged that Alphabet’s Google collected information from Android devices without user consent, even when the phones were idle.
The jury sided with the plaintiffs, who argued that Google sent and received data from users’ devices without permission, imposing ‘mandatory and unavoidable burdens shouldered by Android device users for Google’s benefit.’ These data transfers were said to consume cellular data paid for by users, while serving Google’s purposes, such as enabling targeted advertising, at no cost to the company.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of an estimated 14 million Android users in California, all of whom were affected by what the plaintiffs described as unfair and invasive data practices. Attorney Glen Summers, representing the plaintiffs, called the verdict a powerful affirmation of the case’s merit, stating that it “forcefully vindicates the merits of this case and reflects the seriousness of Google’s misconduct.”
In response to the verdict, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the company would appeal the decision. Castaneda criticized the ruling, stating that it “misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices.”
Google defended itself during the trial by arguing that users consented to the data collection through its terms of service and privacy policies, and claimed that Android users were not harmed by the background data transfers. The company insisted that such activity was routine and essential for device operation and maintenance.
While this case specifically addressed users within California, a separate lawsuit filed in federal court in San Jose is seeking similar claims on behalf of Android users across the remaining 49 US states. That case is currently scheduled to go to trial in April 2026.
The California ruling marks a significant legal development in ongoing debates about data privacy, corporate accountability, and consumer rights in the digital era.
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