A California jury has ordered Google to pay $314.6 million in damages for covertly collecting data from Android smartphones while devices sat idle, marking one of the largest privacy-related verdicts against the tech giant in recent years. The decision affects an estimated 14 million California Android users who unknowingly subsidise Google's data collection through their own cellular bills.
The class-action lawsuit, filed in 2019, centered on Google's practice of automatically transmitting user information from Android devices even when phones weren't actively being used. This background data collection consumed users' paid cellular data allowances while feeding Google's advertising algorithms, essentially forcing Android owners to pay for their own surveillance.
"The verdict forcefully vindicates the merits of this case and reflects the seriousness of Google's misconduct," said Glen Summers, the plaintiffs' attorney, following Tuesday's decision in San Jose Superior Court.
The technical crux of the case involves Android's background processes (automated tasks that run without user interaction) that continuously send device information to Google's servers. Unlike typical app usage, where users consciously choose to consume data, these transfers occurred automatically and couldn't be disabled without severely limiting phone functionality. The jury found these "mandatory and unavoidable burdens" violated user privacy rights while enriching Google's targeted advertising capabilities.
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda defended the practices, arguing the verdict "misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices." The company maintains that users consented to data collection through terms of service agreements and that no harm occurred since the information helped improve device security and performance.
However, the jury's decision suggests that burying consent in lengthy legal documents doesn't justify forcing users to pay for unwanted data harvesting. This precedent could reshape how tech companies approach background data collection, particularly when it directly costs users money through cellular charges.
The implications extend far beyond California. A separate federal lawsuit covering the remaining 49 states is scheduled for trial in April 2026, potentially exposing Google to billions more in damages if similar verdicts emerge.
Google has announced plans to appeal, but the decision already signals growing judicial skepticism toward Big Tech's data collection practices. For Android users, this verdict validates long-standing concerns about hidden costs buried in smartphone ownership and may encourage more transparent data usage policies industry-wide.