La Derecha Diario Android under scrutiny: Google will have to pay $314 million for improper use of data
A California judge ordered Google to pay US$314 million for collecting data without permission from Android devices
A judge in California sentenced Google to pay a multimillion-dollar sum for collecting personal data without consent. The complaint once again targets the advertising business that sustains the technology giant.
According to the lawsuit, the company captured private information from Android users even when the phones were inactive or not connected to Wi-Fi.
Why Google was fined in the United States
The judicial setback affects Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company. It was ordered to pay 314 million dollars for using mobile data without authorization.
The complaint, filed in 2019 in Santa Clara, reveals that Android collected information in the background, even when the devices were stored away or not in use.
How the data collection system worked
The accusation refers to "passive transfers" of data: automatic transmissions to Google's servers, without users noticing.
This practice allegedly served to display personalized advertising and improve tools such as Google Maps, all at the expense of users' data plans.
What the users' defense said
Attorney Marc Wallenstein celebrated the ruling: "The jury understood the seriousness of Google's actions and supported our complaint," he stated.
He emphasized that the company used mobile data without permission, affecting millions of people who never agreed to be tracked in that way.
Google's response and its legal strategy
The company rejected the accusation and stated that they are going to appeal. "This ruling harms users because it ignores essential Android services," a spokesperson said.
They claim that data transfers are necessary for the security and stability of the operating system, and that they are accepted in the terms of use.
"These are unavoidable processes, designed to improve the user experience," they added, pointing out that everything is covered in the initial device setup.
What's next: a new trial in 2026
Beyond this ruling, the case will continue in court. In 2026, a federal trial will begin in the U.S. with similar claims from users across the country.
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