Google has agreed to pay $135 million to settle a federal class action lawsuit accusing the company of secretly using Android users’ paid cellular data to transfer information to its own servers. Without permission. Without notice. Even when phones were sitting completely idle.
If you have used an Android phone on a cellular data plan at any point since November 12, 2017, you are likely eligible for a cash payment.
Here is everything you need to know, including exactly how to claim it.
What Google Was Accused of Doing
The lawsuit (Taylor et al. v. Google LLC, Case No. 5:20-cv-07956-VKD) filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California was brought by 3 class representatives: Joseph Taylor, Mick Cleary, and Jennifer Nelson.
Their core allegation is specific. Google’s Android operating system caused devices to transfer a variety of information to Google’s servers in the background, without any notice to the user, including when devices were in a completely idle state: not being touched, not in use, and with all apps closed.
The allegation goes further: Google could have configured these transfers to happen only when devices were connected to Wi-Fi, which would cost users nothing. Instead, Google caused these transfers to take place over cellular networks, using data users had already paid for through their mobile carrier plans, for Google’s own benefit.
Plaintiffs argued this unauthorized use of their cellular data violated the law and required compensation.
Google denies all allegations. The court has not made any determination on the merits of these claims. The settlement does not mean any law was broken or that Google did anything wrong. Both sides agreed to settle to avoid the costs and uncertainty of a prolonged trial.
Who Is Eligible
The settlement covers a large, specific group. The following 3 criteria determine eligibility:
- You are a natural person in the United States, not a business, organisation, or corporation
- You used an Android device on a cellular data plan at any time from November 12, 2017, through the date the settlement receives final court approval
- You are not a class member in Csupo v. Google LLC: A separate, similar lawsuit covering California residents specifically
California residents are excluded from this settlement because they are covered under the Csupo v. Google LLC case in Santa Clara County Superior Court (No. 19CV352557).
The following people are also excluded regardless of Android use: Google employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, and directors; judges assigned to the case and their immediate family members; and Settlement Class Counsel.
There are approximately 100 million eligible Settlement Class Members.
How Much Will You Receive
The exact payment amount per person is not yet confirmed and will not be known until after final court approval. Here is how the math works:
The $135 million settlement fund will first be reduced by the following 4 court-approved deductions:
- Attorney fees: Settlement Class Counsel will request up to 29.5% of the settlement fund (approximately $39.8 million)
- Litigation expenses: Up to approximately $750,000 in reimbursable costs
- Service awards to the 3 class representatives (Joseph Taylor, Mick Cleary, and Jennifer Nelson) for their work on behalf of all class members
- Notice and administration costs, and any taxes incurred by the settlement fund
The remaining net fund will be divided equally among all Settlement Class Members who are successfully paid. Settlement administrators have indicated individual payments could reach up to $100, but with approximately 100 million potential claimants, most payments are expected to be significantly lower than that ceiling.
Important: If funds remain after initial distribution and it is economically feasible, the remaining funds will be redistributed to class members who were previously paid successfully, up to the $100 per person cap. If redistribution is not feasible, remaining funds go to a court-approved organisation. No remaining funds return to Google under any circumstances.
Key Dates to Know
The following 3 dates are critical for anyone who wants to participate, opt out, or object:
| Event | Date |
| Exclusion and objection deadline | May 29, 2026 |
| Final Approval Hearing | June 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM |
| Settlement website | FederalCellularClassAction.com |
How to Claim Your Payment
No traditional claim form is required. The process works in 5 steps:
- Go to FederalCellularClassAction.com: Click the Payment Election tab at the top of the page. This is the only official settlement website. Do not use any third-party sites claiming to process your claim.
- Confirm your eligibility: You must be a US resident who used an Android device on a cellular data plan after November 12, 2017. Note: California residents are excluded; they are covered under a separate lawsuit called Csupo v. Google LLC.
- Complete the Payment Election Form: Enter your details and select your preferred payment method from PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, ACH bank transfer, or a virtual prepaid card. Note: if you skip this step, the Settlement Administrator will still attempt to send your payment automatically, but there is a real risk it will not reach you.
- Submit and save your confirmation: Screenshot or save any confirmation you receive after submitting. Note: claims are submitted under penalty of perjury. Do not file if you are unsure of your eligibility. Fraudulent claims harm other eligible class members.
- Wait for final court approval: Payments go out after the Final Approval Hearing on June 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM, once the court confirms the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If appeals are filed after that, payments will be delayed further.
If you want to opt out entirely, send a personally signed, ink-signed letter (electronic signatures are not accepted) to: Federal Cellular Class Action, ATTN: OPT OUTS, P.O. Box 58220, Philadelphia, PA 19102. The letter must include your full name, address, phone number, a clear statement that you wish to be excluded, and the case name and number: Taylor v. Google LLC, Case No. 5:20-cv-07956-VKD. It must be postmarked by May 29, 2026. Note: opting out means you receive no payment but retain the right to sue Google independently.
If you want to object to the settlement, file a written objection with the court by May 29, 2026, either by mail to the Office of the Clerk, US District Court Northern District of California, 280 South 1st Street, Room 2112, San Jose, CA 95113, or electronically through the court’s ECF system by 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Note: objecting does not remove you from the settlement. You will still receive a payment even if your objection is filed.
If you have questions, contact the Settlement Administrator directly:
- Email: Info@FederalCellularClassAction.com
- Phone: 1-844-655-4255
- Mail: Federal Cellular Class Action, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103
What You Give Up By Staying In
This is the part most articles skip over. By remaining in the settlement and accepting a payment, you permanently release your right to separately sue Google about any of the claims alleged in this lawsuit. All of the court’s decisions will bind you going forward.
The settlement agreement on the Important Documents page at FederalCellularClassAction.com specifies exactly which claims are being released. Reading it before deciding whether to opt out is strongly recommended if you believe you have a particularly strong individual claim.
What Google Has Agreed to Change
Beyond the cash payout, the settlement requires Google to make 3 structural changes to how it discloses background data transfers to Android users:
- Update Google Play Terms of Service to explicitly disclose the background cellular data transfer conduct described in the lawsuit
- Update Google’s Help Center with a dedicated page explaining background data use on Android devices
- Update Android device setup screens to disclose the conduct and ask users to consent to it going forward
Google will also disable a related setting on Android devices connected to the transfers described in the lawsuit. The full text of the proposed updates is available on the Important Documents page of the settlement website.
Objecting vs. Opting Out
These are 2 fundamentally different actions that many people confuse:
Objecting
Objecting means you are staying in the settlement but telling the court you disagree with some aspect of it, including the amount, the terms, the attorney fees, or anything else. You will still receive a payment if the settlement is approved despite your objection. To object, you must file a written statement with the court by May 29, 2026, including your full name, address, phone number, your written objection and reasons, whether you intend to appear at the June 23 hearing, your signature, and the case name and number.
Opting out
Opting out means you are removing yourself from the settlement entirely. You receive no payment, you are not bound by the court’s decisions, and you retain the right to sue Google independently over the same claims. You will not be able to object to the settlement if you have opted out.
The Lawyers Representing You and What They Are Getting Paid
Settlement Class Counsel, Marc A. Wallenstein of Korein Tillery LLC and Glen E. Summers of Bartlit Beck LLP, have worked on this case for 6 years without receiving any payment. They will request attorney fees of up to 29.5% of the settlement fund from the court, plus up to approximately $750,000 in expense reimbursements. Both amounts are subject to court approval and will be paid from the settlement fund before distribution to class members.
You do not owe any money to these lawyers out of pocket. If you want your own separate legal representation, you need to hire a lawyer at your own expense.
Final Takeaway
This settlement covers approximately 100 million Android users and requires no proof of purchase, no claim form, and no prior legal action to participate. The only thing required to secure your payment is selecting a payment method at FederalCellularClassAction.com before the final hearing. The money does not return to Google regardless of how many people claim, and the deadline to act or opt out is May 29, 2026.
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