Google Agrees to $135M Settlement Over Android Data Collection Practices

Google has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over its data collection practices, paying out $135 million and making changes to how it discloses its usage of Android phone users' cellular data.

The settlement affects over 129 million people who used an Android device since November 12, 2017. Each person will receive less than one dollar as part of the deal.

As part of the agreement, Google must add a new section to its set-up process for Android phones that explains how cellular data is used for background communications between devices and Google servers.

The company also must change its Google Play terms and conditions to disclose that some network communications may happen in the background, even when users are not directly interacting with their device.