Google will compensate U.S. Android users up to $100 each for unauthorized data collection, as part of a $135 million settlement over privacy violations.
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| Google’s settlement over alleged unauthorized Android data collection will provide automatic compensation to U.S. users, though California residents are excluded due to a separate settlement. Image: CH |
Mountain View, United States — February 18, 2026:
Google has announced a plan to compensate U.S. Android users following a federal lawsuit alleging the company collected personal data without proper consent. Under the settlement, users may receive up to $100 each from a $135 million fund, designed to address claims that Google transferred information from Android devices through mobile data and Wi-Fi networks even when the devices were idle.
The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims that Google’s so-called “passive data transfers” have been ongoing since November 12, 2017. According to plaintiffs, these transfers occurred regardless of users’ preferences, including when background data usage was disabled, and violated both Google’s privacy policies and general standards of consent. The court has described these practices as misleading and deceptive.
More than 100 million Android users across the United States are expected to be eligible for compensation. California residents, however, are excluded from this settlement because a separate $314 million settlement has already been reached in a related case covering similar claims.
Google plans to automatically send payments to the methods linked to users’ Google accounts. The actual compensation amount per user will depend on the number of eligible claimants, with a maximum of $100 per individual. For those who need to update payment information, Google will provide an online form to adjust account details before receiving funds.
This settlement highlights growing scrutiny of tech giants over data privacy and user consent. While many users may have assumed that disabling background data would stop information collection, the lawsuit underscores how complex and opaque data practices can expose users to unintended tracking. By providing automatic compensation, Google aims to resolve this issue for millions of U.S. users, but the case serves as a reminder of the ongoing tension between technology companies and privacy rights in the digital age.