Google privacy lawsuits

Developing StoryLast updated APR 22
SUMMARY

A data privacy lawsuit against Google, initiated in 2020, is proceeding after a San Francisco judge ruled on April 22, 2026, that the company may have collected user data without explicit consent, even after users turned off the "App and Activity" setting. As of April 22, 2026: Google faces ongoing legal challenges regarding its data collection practices, with a federal judge in San Francisco having denied a consumer request for over $2 billion in penalties on April 4, 2026, while upholding a $425 million jury verdict against Google on February 4, 2026, for improperly tracking smartphone activity. Google plans to appeal the September 2025 jury verdict that found them liable for secretly collecting app activity data. The company has also agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its Google Assistant spied on smartphone users and $8.25 million for illegally collecting data from children under 13 through its AdMob software development kit.

Timeline

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April 2026 — 2 developments

  1. A data privacy lawsuit against Google, initiated in 2020, is proceeding after a San Francisco judge ruled that the company may have collected user data without explicit consent.

    A data privacy lawsuit against Google, initiated in 2020, is proceeding after a San Francisco judge ruled that the company may have collected user data without explicit consent. Chief Judge Richard Seeborg stated it was unclear from a reasonable user's perspective whether consent was given for the data collection, as the lawsuit alleges Google continued to gather data from mobile devices even after users turned off the "App and Activity" setting.

  2. A federal judge in San Francisco denied a consumer request for over $2 billion in penalties against Google, sought due to the company's past data collection practices.

    A federal judge in San Francisco denied a consumer request for over $2 billion in penalties against Google, sought due to the company's past data collection practices. Google plans to appeal a September 2025 jury verdict that found them liable for secretly collecting app activity data.

February 2026 — 2 developments

  1. A federal judge in San Francisco has rejected a proposed $2.

    A federal judge in San Francisco has rejected a proposed $2.36 billion penalty in a major U.S. privacy class action lawsuit against Google. The case concerns Google's data collection practices. This ruling indicates ongoing judicial scrutiny of tech companies' privacy policies.

  2. A federal judge has rejected Google's request to vacate a jury verdict that requires the company to pay $425 million for allegedly violating mobile users' privacy.

    A federal judge has rejected Google's request to vacate a jury verdict that requires the company to pay $425 million for allegedly violating mobile users' privacy. This ruling upholds the jury's decision in a class-action lawsuit filed by smartphone users.

January 2026 — 4 developments

  1. A federal judge denied the request for a $2.

    A federal judge denied the request for a $2.36 billion disgorgement and injunction against Google but also rejected Google's motion to decertify the class, confirming that a $425 million jury award stands.

  2. Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its Google Assistant …

    Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its Google Assistant spied on smartphone users, with a preliminary settlement filed in federal court requiring approval.

  3. A federal judge in San Francisco expressed skepticism regarding post-trial motions, including the plaintiffs' request for a permanent injunction and disgorgement of $2.

    A federal judge in San Francisco expressed skepticism regarding post-trial motions, including the plaintiffs' request for a permanent injunction and disgorgement of $2.36 billion in Google's profits, and Google's motion to decertify the class.

  4. Google agreed to an $8.

    Google agreed to an $8.25 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging it illegally collected data from children under 13 through its AdMob software development kit. This settlement addresses claims of children's privacy violations.

December 2025 — 1 developments

  1. Google is urging a federal judge in San Francisco to overturn the jury's $425 million privacy verdict, arguing the lawsuit should not have proceeded as a class-action.

    Google is urging a federal judge in San Francisco to overturn the jury's $425 million privacy verdict, arguing the lawsuit should not have proceeded as a class-action.

September 2025 — 2 developments

  1. A federal jury has ordered Google to pay $425.

    A federal jury has ordered Google to pay $425.7 million for improperly tracking smartphone activity over a nearly decade-long period. This verdict in a class-action case covers approximately 98 million smartphones in the U.S. between July 2016 and September 2, 2025.

  2. A federal jury in California found Google liable for violating the privacy of over 100 million users…

    A federal jury in California found Google liable for violating the privacy of over 100 million users by collecting their data even after they opted out of app activity tracking, awarding $425 million in compensatory damages.

August 2025 — 1 developments

January 2025 — 1 developments

  1. A federal judge denied Google's attempt to dismiss a data privacy lawsuit, ruling that the company's…

    A federal judge denied Google's attempt to dismiss a data privacy lawsuit, ruling that the company's data collection practices could be considered 'highly offensive' and setting a jury trial for August.

September 2024 — 1 developments

  1. The alleged period of Google's data collection, as outlined in the lawsuit, concluded.

    The alleged period of Google's data collection, as outlined in the lawsuit, concluded.

January 2024 — 1 developments

  1. Google has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging it secretly tracked users in Incognito m…

    Google has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging it secretly tracked users in Incognito mode, with the terms of the settlement remaining confidential and awaiting judicial approval. This lawsuit had sought at least $5 billion in damages.

July 2016 — 1 developments

  1. The period during which Google allegedly collected user data, despite 'Web & App Activity' and 'supplemental Web & App Activity' settings being turned off, began.

    The period during which Google allegedly collected user data, despite 'Web & App Activity' and 'supplemental Web & App Activity' settings being turned off, began.