Imagine your phone quietly sipping your data—even when it’s just sitting idle on the table.
That’s exactly what a California jury believes Google did, and now the tech giant has been slapped with a $314.6 million fine for it.
The lawsuit, filed in 2019, accused Google of collecting user data from Android phones without permission—even when they weren’t in use.
That data? Allegedly used for things like targeted ads, all while Android users unknowingly picked up the bill through their cellular data plans.
“This verdict forcefully vindicates the merits of this case,” said Glen Summers, attorney for the 14 million Californians represented in the class action.
The jury clearly agreed that Google imposed “mandatory and unavoidable burdens” on users to benefit itself.
What’s Google’s Response?
Not surprisingly, they’re appealing.
Spokesman Jose Castaneda insisted the decision “misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability.”
These services are of Android devices. But the courtroom battles aren’t over.
A nearly identical case, this time involving Android users in the other 49 states, is headed for trial in 2026.
So, next time your phone seems quiet—maybe ask: who’s it really working for?
