Tech giant Google has been ordered by a California court to pay $314.6 million in damages to Android phone users in the state, following a class-action lawsuit over the unauthorized collection of personal data.
The lawsuit, filed in 2019, represents approximately 14 million California residents. According to the complaint, Google collected users’ data even when their phones were inactive, using their internet connections for targeted advertising—without their consent.
“The ruling strongly validates the merits of this case and reflects the seriousness of Google’s misconduct,” stated plaintiffs’ attorney Glen Summers.
Google has responded by announcing its intention to appeal the decision, claiming the court’s ruling misrepresents essential services critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices.
The tech company insists that users were aware of and had consented to such data practices through its privacy policies, adding that “no user was harmed.”
Meanwhile, a larger lawsuit—filed on behalf of 49 other U.S. states—is expected to go to trial in April 2026.
