New Delhi: Google is facing serious heat after a California jury ordered the company to pay $314.6 million, roughly ₹2,745 crore, in damages. The fine comes after claims that the tech giant collected data from Android phones even when users weren’t using them. This silent data grab allegedly happened without permission and while consuming users’ mobile data.
The lawsuit, filed in 2019, represented nearly 14 million Android users in California. The jury agreed that Google’s background data collection violated user rights and contributed to unfair usage of personal information, sparking debates around digital privacy and trust in tech platforms.
Jury finds Google guilty of misusing user data
The case argued that Google gathered data from idle Android phones to support advertising and other internal services. What angered many was that this activity happened without any clear permission. Users were also reportedly charged for the mobile data used during this process.
Calling the ruling a win for user rights, attorney Glen Summers said it “forcefully vindicates the merits of this case and reflects the seriousness of Google’s misconduct.”
While this verdict applies only to Android users in California, the matter is far from over. A similar class-action lawsuit covering the remaining 49 U.S. states is expected to go on trial in April 2026. If it results in another loss, Google could be staring at an even bigger penalty.
Google responds, plans to appeal
Not surprisingly, Google isn’t staying quiet. A company spokesperson told Reuters that the decision “misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices.” The company believes that users agreed to these data transfers as part of their privacy policy and added that “no Android users were harmed.”
Google has confirmed it will appeal the verdict. This sets the stage for what could be a long legal fight. In its defence, Google has also pointed out that background data use is part of maintaining Android’s performance and that this was disclosed in user agreements.
Bigger fight ahead for data privacy
As the tech industry faces growing scrutiny over data practices, this case marks a key moment in how courts and users view consent and transparency. With another lawsuit looming next year, Google’s troubles are far from over.