Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-28 15:57Core Viewpoint - Google will pay $135 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by smartphone users who accused the company of collecting mobile network data without user consent through its Android operating system [1][3]. Group 1: Settlement Details - The settlement agreement was submitted to the federal court in San Jose, California, and is pending judicial approval [1][3]. - Google denies any wrongdoing while agreeing to the settlement, which covers all Android device users from November 12, 2017 [1][3]. - The settlement amount of $135 million sets a record for cases involving illegal appropriation, with each class member eligible for a maximum compensation of $100 [2][4]. Group 2: Allegations and User Impact - Plaintiffs claim that Google continued to collect users' mobile network data even when users disabled Google apps, turned off location sharing, or locked their phones [1][3]. - The lawsuit alleges that Google used this data for product development and targeted advertising, constituting "illegal appropriation" [1][3]. Group 3: Required Changes by Google - As part of the settlement, Google must implement several changes, including obtaining explicit consent from users before transmitting their data during the initial setup of Android devices [1][3]. - Google is also required to provide users with easier options to disable data transmission and to clearly disclose data transmission practices in the terms of service on the Google Play Store [1][3]. Group 4: Legal Fees - The plaintiffs' legal team plans to request up to $39.8 million in attorney fees, which would account for 29.5% of the settlement fund [2][4].