The California federal jury found Google accountable for the violations of user privacy and announced $425 million payment to be paid by Google to settle the lawsuit. If you are a Google cellphone user whose activity was tracked, you can find the full details of the settlement here.
Google Class Action Settlement
California announced the verdict on the Google class action settlement after a three-week trial and two days of deliberation. The plaintiffs, Julian Santiago and Anibal Rodriguez, who filed the lawsuit against Google, represent all the cellphone users.
The class action lawsuit against Google alleged that the defendant has saved, used, and tracked users’ activities on the non-Google apps after the users’ consent and when the users opt out of the tracking of their activities.
The Court verdict was released on 04 September 2025, and found Google responsible for collecting 98 million cellphone users’ information, even when they had turned off the web activity tracking. The jury says that Google has not violated the California Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, and there were no punitive damages.
Is Google appealing the court verdict?
The court verdict on the Google class action settlement was in favor of the plaintiffs; however, Google denies the allegations and plans to file an appeal against the court verdict. The plaintiff says that Google will track their activity, and the only option to avoid it is to cut their internet.
The legal team of Google counters the plaintiff’s allegation, saying that Google Analytics has widespread uses that track the user’s activity on other websites, so the users should know that even turning off the Web& App activity” would not stop tracking.
The plaintiffs oppose Google’s defense on the user’s activity tracking and demand compensation. With the defendant appealing the decision, the class action settlement is still in question.
Who will be eligible for the Google Class action settlement?
Many of you must be wondering who will be eligible for the class action settlement if the court approves the settlement. Here you can check the expected Google settlement class members’ eligibility below:
- You must have a Google account and turn the Web & app Activity or Supplemental Web & app activity off during the class period.
- The class period for the Google class action settlement is between 01 July 2016 and 23 September 2024.
- Your privacy was compromised as your data from a non-Google app was transformed to Google even after you turned off the Web & app activity.
What will be the Google Class Action Settlement payout?
The California federal jury has given a verdict on the class action settlement and announced the compensatory payment for the damage the defendant has caused. But as the settlement is not settled and agreed upon by both parties, it is hard to say the amount.
The 98 million cellphone users will receive compensation from the $425 million if the settlement process begins and the court gives preliminary approval. But remember, the settlement funds will be first used for administration costs, attorney fees, and service awards for the class representatives.
So, until the class action settlement appeal is resolved, as Google plans to appeal and comes in the favor of the plaintiffs, you cannot have the individual payout amount for the class members. The payout amount under the settlement will be estimated by the settlement administrator based on the number of claims and settlement expenses.
When can you expect the Google settlement claims?
The Google class action settlement will be appealed, so we don’t know the time it will take to resolve the appeal. If the appeal comes in favor of the plaintiffs, the court will start the settlement process to compensate the class members.
You will have the claim process for the Google class action settlement once it is approved by the Court and the administration begins the process. Typically, the class members will receive the settlement notice from the settlement administrator after the preliminary approval order from the court.
So, if you wish to participate in the Google class action settlement if your privacy was compromised during the class period, you should stay tuned and keep an eye on the California federal court hearing on the Google appeal.
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