Google Hit with $314M Verdict: Jury Rules Android Secretly Used Cellular Data for Tracking
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Google previously reserved a setting within the Android operating system that allowed necessary system data to be transmitted back to its servers via cellular data—even when the user was not connected to Wi-Fi. This practice, carried out without explicit user consent and involving potentially costly mobile data usage, has led to a class-action lawsuit against the company in the United States.
Attorneys representing the consumer class argue that Google exploited the collected data to advance its own commercial interests—enhancing targeted digital advertising and expanding the mapping capabilities of Google Maps. The suit further alleges that such behavior constitutes unauthorized appropriation of customers’ paid cellular data.
A jury in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, has now ruled against Google in this case. The company has been ordered to pay $314 million in damages to affected consumers. However, this is not the final outcome—Google has already announced its intent to appeal the decision.
A Google spokesperson expressed strong disagreement with the verdict and confirmed plans to challenge the ruling. The company contends that the lawsuit misrepresents services essential to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices. Google further maintains that the amount of data transmitted was minimal and necessary for optimizing the system’s overall functionality.
Moreover, Google invoked the Android Terms of Use, stating that users agreed to multiple usage policies and data transfer provisions when they began using the platform. According to the company, this agreement made users aware that some data might be transmitted over mobile networks.
The class-action suit was initially filed in 2019 in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County on behalf of California residents. After six years of litigation, a verdict has finally been reached. However, with Google now appealing—and potentially facing further legal defeat and compensation—this legal saga may continue for many more years.
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