A California jury has ordered Google to pay $314.6 million to Android users for collecting their data without proper consent. The verdict, delivered on July 1, 2025, marks a major blow to the tech giant in a legal battle that began in 2019.
The class-action lawsuit represents roughly 14 million California Android smartphone users who claimed Google secretly collected their data even when their phones were idle. What made this case stand out was the argument that Google was using people’s paid cellular data to transfer this information.
“These passive information transfers using cellular data allowances purchased by plaintiffs are mandatory and unavoidable burdens shouldered by Android device users for Google’s benefit,” the original complaint stated. In simple terms, Android users were unknowingly paying for data that Google was using to make money through targeted advertising.
The jury found that Google transferred data from idle phones without permission. This happened when devices were in pockets, purses, or even sitting on nightstands while people slept. According to evidence presented at trial, a Samsung Galaxy S7 with default settings sent and received 8.88 megabytes of cellular data daily while idle, with 94% of communications going to Google’s servers. These transfers happened approximately 389 times within 24 hours.
What’s particularly concerning is that this data collection continued even after users closed Google apps. The lawsuit claimed Google intentionally designed Android so users couldn’t completely disable these transfers. Plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that Android settings claiming to turn off background mobile data usage didn’t actually stop the transfers, creating what they called a “false illusion” of user control.
“The evidence at trial revealed that Google secretly collects a massive amount of information from Android smartphones,” said Glen Summers, attorney for the plaintiffs. “We’re deeply gratified by the jury’s verdict.”
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda responded that the company will appeal the decision. “We strongly disagree with today’s decision,” Castaneda said. “This ruling is a setback for users, as it misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices.”
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Google’s defense relied on two main arguments. First, the company claimed these data transfers were essential for proper device functioning. Second, Google maintained that users had consented through terms of service agreements and privacy policies. The jury rejected both arguments.
The case hinged on a novel legal interpretation that cellular data allowances constitute “property” under California law. By using this property without permission, Google was found liable for “conversion” – essentially taking something that belongs to someone else without permission.
The California verdict isn’t the end of Google’s legal troubles. A separate federal lawsuit with similar claims has been filed on behalf of Android users in the remaining 49 states. That case is scheduled for trial in April 2026 and could expose Google to significantly larger damages if it results in a similar outcome.
This ruling comes amid growing scrutiny of tech companies’ data practices. In May 2025, Google agreed to pay nearly $1.4 billion to settle two lawsuits in Texas over location tracking and facial recognition data. Last year, a federal judge ruled against Google in an anti-monopoly case.
For everyday Android users, this verdict raises important questions about who controls their data and how companies like Google use it. The case highlights the gap between what users think they’re agreeing to and what’s actually happening with their personal information.
While $314.6 million represents only a fraction of Google’s annual revenue, the precedent set by this case could force major changes in how tech companies handle user data in the future.
