Settlements
Google filed the proposed settlements in January in a federal court in California. However, the agreements are not final yet. A judge must review and approve them before any money is paid. If approved, the total payout from both cases could range from $100 million to $135 million. The final amount each person receives will depend on how many users file valid claims. Google has said it chose to settle the cases to move forward, while continuing to deny the allegations made in the lawsuits.
Android lawsuit
The first lawsuit focuses on Google’s Android operating system. The plaintiffs claimed that Android devices collected users’ cellular data without clear consent. According to court documents, the lawsuit alleged that data was collected even when users had closed their apps, locked their phones, or turned off location-sharing settings. The complaint said this data helped improve targeted advertising. Google denied these claims. The company said its practices followed standard industry norms and were meant to ensure device security and performance. The proposed settlement related to the Android case was filed on January 27. If approved, eligible Android users may receive payments of about $100.
Assistant lawsuit
The second lawsuit centers on Google Assistant, the company’s voice service that responds to commands such as “Hey Google” or “Okay Google.” Plaintiffs alleged that the assistant recorded and shared private conversations for advertising purposes. The lawsuit claimed users were not fully aware of how their conversations could be used. Google has denied that it violated users’ privacy. Still, it agreed to pay $68 million to settle the case. The settlement was filed on January 23 and also awaits court approval. Court records indicate that the Google Assistant settlement may apply to people who purchased Google devices on or after May 18, 2016.
