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If you’ve used an Android phone on a cellular plan in the last several years, there may be money waiting for you. A class-action lawsuit accused Google of allowing Android devices to transfer user data without permission, using up people’s paid cellular data in the process. Google denied the allegations but agreed to a preliminary $135 million settlement in January, without admitting fault.
The case, Taylor v. Google LLC, alleges that Android devices sent data to Google even when phones were idle and all apps were closed. A final approval hearing is scheduled for June 23, when the court will determine whether the settlement terms are fair. Until then, eligible users can log on to the official settlement website to set their preferred payment method.
About 100 million Android users could qualify, making individual payouts uncertain since the $135 million will also be reduced by attorney fees, taxes, and administrative costs. The maximum possible payment per person is $100, according to CNET. Exact amounts won’t be known until after the court signs off and any appeals are resolved.
Who Qualifies and What You Need to Do
To be eligible, you must be a U.S. resident who used an Android device with a cellular data plan at any point between November 12, 2017, and the date of final court approval. California residents already part of a similar lawsuit, Csupo v. Google LLC, are not included in this settlement.
Eligible users should have received a notice by mail or email containing a Notice ID and Confirmation Code. You’ll need both to select your payment method on the official settlement website. The deadline to act is tied to the June 23 hearing, though the date is subject to change, and updates will be posted on the site.
Even without a notification, you may still qualify. The settlement administrators can be reached at 1-844-655-4255 or via email at [email protected]. Written inquiries can also be mailed to Federal Cellular Class Action, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103, according to CNET.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
Doing nothing doesn’t automatically disqualify you. The settlement administrator will attempt to pay all eligible Android users, whether or not they’ve submitted payment information, CBS News reported. However, the settlement site cautions that users who skip that step may not receive a payment if those outreach attempts are unsuccessful.
As part of the agreement, Google has also committed to changes in how it handles background data. The company will update its Google Play terms of service to inform users that some data transfers happen passively, even when a device isn’t in active use and is not connected to Wi-Fi. Users will be asked to consent to this during device setup, according to CNET.
Google will also be required to fully stop collecting data when users toggle off the “allow background data usage” setting, according to CNET. These policy updates sit alongside the financial settlement as part of what Google committed to, giving users more visibility into how their data is handled in the background.
What Comes Next After June 23
Court approval is the next hurdle. On June 23, the court will hear any objections and decide whether to grant final approval of the $135 million settlement. Anyone who wants to object or exclude themselves from the settlement must do so by May 29. Instructions for both options are available on the official settlement website.
Payments won’t go out immediately after the hearing. Distribution begins only after final approval and once any appeals are fully resolved. If funds remain after initial payments are sent, they may be redistributed to members who were successfully paid, provided it’s economically feasible to do so, according to CNET.
This settlement follows a separate $314 million California settlement resolved last year over similar allegations, CBS News reported. Whether or not the June 23 hearing produces final approval, the Taylor v. Google case adds to a growing record of legal challenges over how major tech companies collect and use data on mobile devices.