California Holds Google Accountable: $314.6M for Privacy Breach

California has held Google accountable, with a jury ordering the tech giant to pay $314.6 million for breaching the privacy of Android smartphone users. The verdict found Google liable for sending and receiving information from idle devices without permission, creating what the lawsuit termed “mandatory and unavoidable burdens” on users for Google’s gain. This outcome emphasizes corporate responsibility in the digital age.
The class-action lawsuit, initiated in 2019, involved an estimated 14 million California residents. Plaintiffs contended that Google harvested information from dormant Android phones for corporate purposes, including targeted advertising, thereby consuming users’ cellular data without their explicit consent. This alleged privacy breach was at the heart of the legal dispute.
Google has announced its intention to appeal the decision. Jose Castaneda, a company spokesperson, stated that the verdict “misunderstand services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices.” Google’s appeal is expected to argue for the technical necessity of its data operations.
Glen Summers, the attorney for the plaintiffs, praised the verdict as a “forceful vindication of the merits of this case and reflects the seriousness of Google’s misconduct.” This landmark case could reshape data collection policies for tech firms. A separate federal lawsuit covering Android users in 49 other states is scheduled for trial in April 2026.