Google This - $314 million class action suit
On July 1, 2025, a Santa Clara County jury in Attila Csupo et al. v. Google LLC awarded a total of $314.6 million to a class of Android users, finding that Google covertly transmitted their cellular data without consent. Named plaintiffs included Attila Csupo, Andrew Burke, and Kerry Hecht, representing approximately 14 million California residents who alleged their data plans were misused over a 6-year period. The plaintiffs had originally sought $4.2 billion in total damages.
Google was accused of illegally collecting data from Android phones that were idle, obviously without consent. This means that Google could unethically target ads and track data usage of users. But the unethical activity doesn’t stop there, as google was tracking users by using their own cellular data. This means that while Google was watching their user’s every move, they were also doing it on the user’s dime.
Lead plaintiff counsel were Glen Summers and Karma Giulianelli of Bartlit Beck LLP, along with Hamilton Hill, Lin Brenza, Marc Wallenstein, and Chad Bell of Korein Tillery. Google was represented by Whitty Somvichian and Michael Attanasio of Cooley LLP. The case was presided over by Judge Charles F. Adams of the Santa Clara County Superior Court.
The jury found that Google’s Android operating system secretly collected and transmitted background cellular data, violating California’s privacy, consumer protection, and property laws. The case was ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, and is one of the largest class-action verdicts in U.S. digital privacy litigation.
Google’s Parent company pays $500 Million for massive monopoly
In a landmark case, Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, has agreed to commit $500 million over the next decade to overhaul its global compliance operations, resolving allegations that its leadership failed to manage antitrust risks effectively. The lawsuit, initiated by Michigan pension funds in 2021, accused Alphabet’s board of breaching fiduciary duties by allowing regulatory violations in core business areas, as well as engaging in anticompetitive behavior in areas such as searches, Google Play, and advertising. The suit was class action, and the plaintiffs were represented by Scott and Scott LLP.
The massive settlement by Alphabet, represented by Freshfields US LLP, allocates $500 million to the formation of a dedicated Board Risk & Compliance Committee and the creation of new executive and product-level compliance structures. Alphabet also agreed to implement robust policies around internal communications and oversight, with reforms in place for a minimum of four years. While no funds will be distributed to shareholders, the $500 million will be assigned for internal reforms.
This settlement is one of the most significant governance overhauls in a U.S. shareholder case, underscoring rising expectations for corporate accountability in regulatory matters. A final court hearing is scheduled for September 30, 2025. Alphabet denies any wrongdoing but said the reforms are intended to enhance long-term compliance and risk management.
Texas Attorney General Secures $1.375 Billion Privacy Settlement From Google
On May 9, 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reached a historic $1.375 billion settlement with Google, concluding state lawsuits from 2022 that accused the company of unlawfully collecting Texans’ sensitive data without consent. Paxton has had other legal battles with Google where he has reached large settlements, but none as big as this.
The litigation alleged that Google continued tracking users’ precise geolocation, captured biometric identifiers such as voiceprints and facial geometry of users, and logged activity during Chrome’s Incognito mode, despite users believing they were protected. This means that Google was tracking and storing personal information without consent.
This is the largest single-state privacy settlement ever secured from Google, dwarfing the $391 million multistate deal in 2022 and surpassing prior Texas settlements including Meta’s $1.4 billion biometric case.
In a shocking move, Google did not admit wrongdoing, stating the claims involved outdated policies and noting it has since updated privacy controls. The agreement imposes no further product changes. More information can be found here.
Google admits to no wrongdoing (again) in discrimination case…but still pays $50 Million settlement
Google has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by over 4,000 Black and Black+ employees in California and New York. The lawsuit, initiated in 2022 by former recruiter April Curley, alleged systemic racial discrimination within the company. Curley claimed she was silenced in meetings, labeled an "angry" Black woman, and eventually terminated without cause after voicing concerns about racial inequities at the company. The case was filed in federal court in Oakland, California, and is awaiting judicial approval.
The settlement includes a commitment from Google to implement a three-year plan focused on addressing racial equity. This plan involves reevaluating pay and job classification systems, increasing transparency in salary structures, and creating clear procedures for employees to report concerns about compensation and workplace culture. In what has become something of a trend, Google admits to absolutely nothing, but quickly settled before the case can be heard in court.
The plaintiffs were represented by Linda Friedman of Sanford Heisler Sharp, while Google was defended by attorneys from Keker, Van Nest & Peters.
