Your Android phone was awake at some point within the past eight years while you were asleep. It was discreetly transmitting data back to Google over your paid cellular data without your consent. When the plaintiffs in Taylor v. Google LLC filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of California in 2020, they at least made that claim.
According to the lawsuit, Android devices were set up to send different kinds of data to Google’s servers regardless of whether the user had taken any action, whether a Wi-Fi connection was available, or whether the phone seemed to be idle. The plaintiffs contended that each transfer used cellular data that consumers had paid for; this data had a real cost on metered plans and benefited Google’s ad targeting infrastructure more than the phone owners.
Important Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Case Name | Taylor et al. v. Google LLC — Case No. 5:20-cv-07956-VKD |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose — Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi presiding |
| What the Lawsuit Alleged | Google caused Android mobile devices to transfer a variety of information to Google’s servers without user permission, including when devices were completely idle and not in active use — consuming users’ paid cellular data in the process |
| Google’s Position | Google denied all allegations; no court ruled on the merits; Google agreed to settle to avoid prolonged litigation; Google says background transfers are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices |
| Settlement Amount | $135 million — non-reversionary fund; estimated net fund after attorney fees and costs: approximately $85 million |
| Attorney Fees | Up to $39,825,000 (29.5% of total fund) plus $750,000 in costs — to be paid from the settlement fund |
| Who Qualifies | Any natural person in the United States who used a mobile device running Android OS with a cellular data plan at any time from November 12, 2017 to the date of final court approval — and who is not a member of the separate California case Csupo v. Google LLC |
| Estimated Class Size | Approximately 100 million eligible U.S. Android users |
| Estimated Individual Payout | $1.01 to $1.48 per person based on 100 million claimants; maximum cap of $100 per person if fewer people participate and funds remain; no claim form required — payments are automatic |
| Payment Methods | Zelle, PayPal/Venmo, ACH bank transfer, Virtual Mastercard — class members must register their preferred payment method at the settlement website |
| Key Deadlines | Objection deadline: May 29, 2026 · Opt-out deadline: May 29, 2026 · Final approval hearing: June 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM PDT |
| Broader Context | A separate California case, Csupo v. Google LLC, resulted in a $314.6 million jury verdict in July 2025 against Google on behalf of approximately 14 million California Android users; Google is appealing that verdict |
| Settlement Administrator | Angeion Group LLC — Federal Cellular Class Action, 1650 Arch St., Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103; 1-844-655-4255 |
Google refuted the accusations, arguing that these background transfers are essential to Android’s operation and that they preserve devices’ security, functionality, and proper operation. In situations like this, that is the typical defense, and it has some technical merit. Modern smartphone operating systems actually require background operations, and it’s not always clear what constitutes an unreasonable data extraction and what constitutes a legitimate system function. Google decided against going to trial in this lawsuit. Rather, the parties completed a settlement term sheet in November 2025, and the $135 million accord is currently awaiting final court approval at a hearing planned for June 23, 2026.
When most people learn about this settlement, $135 million is the amount that will catch their attention. It sounds important. About $1.01 to $1.48 is the figure that presents a more truthful picture. That is the expected payment per person if each of the 100 million qualifying class members receives their portion of the net fund, which is estimated to be roughly $85 million after attorneys take up to 29.5 percent and after administrative expenses, taxes, and service awards to the named plaintiffs are subtracted.
A medium coffee wouldn’t be covered by the amount that results from dividing $85 million among 100 million people. If participation is significantly fewer than anticipated, the $100 payment cap per individual would conceivably be applicable. However, the realistic individual payout is closer to the lower end given the size of possible class membership.
It’s important to note that there is no need for a claim form. This settlement is set up as an automatic distribution, in contrast to the majority of class action settlements, which require you to actively submit documentation in order to be paid. Members of the class who do nothing will still be paid; all they need to do is register a payment method on the settlement website in order for the money to reach them. Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, ACH direct deposit, or a virtual Mastercard are the available options. Before the deadline, you must register your chosen method on the official website at federalcellularclassaction.com if you are eligible and want your money.
There is more to the Taylor case than just it. In July 2025, a jury in San Jose heard the Csupo case, which only involved Californians, and returned a $314.6 million verdict against Google based on very identical evidence. Google is appealing the ruling, claiming that the jury’s conclusions misrepresented services that are essential to Android’s functionality. The parallel settlement is the federal Taylor lawsuit, which covers everyone outside of California. Interestingly, it settled for $135 million instead of going to trial, which may have resulted in a higher sum.
It’s difficult to ignore how painful the math is for customers. In 2024, Google made about $350 billion. One type of liability that appears as a rounding error in quarterly filings is a $135 million settlement, or even a $314 million judgment verdict.
Whether settlements of this magnitude result in any significant change in the way data is handled or if they are merely the expense of conducting a specific type of business is the question that cases like Taylor raise but never fully address. As part of the Taylor settlement, Google agreed to alter Android’s disclosures on background data use and user consent. These changes may or may not affect what really occurs when your phone is on your nightstand.
The deadline for objections and opt-outs is May 29, 2026. You maintain the ability to file your own lawsuit against Google if you choose to opt out. If the judge approves the settlement on June 23, you stay in the class and are paid automatically.
