Tens of millions of Americans who have used an Android phone in recent years could be eligible for a payout from a $135 million settlement with Google.
The lawsuit alleged that Android devices transmitted data to Google in the background without users’ permission, consuming their paid cellular data. The tech giant denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle.
Mobile market share data suggests there are about 117 million Android users in the US, compared with around 200 million iPhone and other non-Android users.
Individual payouts are expected to be small — roughly $1 to $1.50 per person — though payments are capped at $100 each, depending on how many users ultimately receive money.
So who actually qualifies? To be eligible, users must meet several conditions.
You must be an individual in the US — not a business — who used an Android device to access the internet using a cellular data plan at any point since Nov. 12, 2017.
You also cannot be part of a separate California case, Csupo v. Google LLC, which excludes certain users from this settlement.
Anyone who meets those criteria could be included.
If you’re unsure, settlement materials advise contacting the administrator or checking the official website to confirm eligibility.
Getting paid is relatively simple — but not entirely automatic.
Users are encouraged to visit the official settlement website, FederalCellularClassAction.com, and select a preferred payment method.
There is no traditional claim form required, but failing to choose a payment option could mean missing the payout if automatic delivery attempts fail.
If no selection is made, administrators may attempt to send payments through services like Zelle, PayPal or Venmo using available account information.
Anyone who wants to opt out — and retain the right to sue separately — must submit a request, which may require a notice ID and a signed form sent by mail before the deadline.
The opt-out and objection deadline is May 29, with a final approval hearing scheduled for June 23.
If approved, payments will be distributed evenly among eligible users.
“We are pleased to resolve this case, which mischaracterized standard industry practices that keep Android safe,” José Castaneda, a Google spokesperson, told The Post via email.
“We’re providing additional disclosures to give people more information about how our services work.”
