Google Class Action Lawsuit, $700 Million Settlement Could Pay Over 100 Million Users — Who Qualifies and How to Claim

Google is paying out over $1.2 billion across multiple settlements right now. The massive $700 million Google Play Store settlement automatically sends money to over 100 million Americans who made app purchases between 2016-2023—no claim form needed. A separate $30 million YouTube kids privacy settlement accepts claims until January 21, 2026. Here’s who qualifies and exactly how to get your money.

The $700 Million Google Play Store Settlement: Why Google Lost

Google settled for $700 million after 38 states sued over monopolistic practices in the Google Play Store. State attorneys general alleged Google forced app developers to use its payment system and charged excessive 15-30% commissions, blocking competition and inflating prices for consumers.

Who Gets Paid Automatically
Over 100 million Americans who made any Google Play Store purchase between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023, receive automatic payments. This includes:

• App purchases
• In-app purchases
• Subscriptions
• Game items
• Digital content

How Much Money You’ll Get

• Minimum payment: $2 per person
• Heavy spenders: Up to several hundred dollars
• Payment method: PayPal or Venmo (sent to account linked to Google Play)
• Distribution date: After April 30, 2026 final court approval

What You Need to Do
Nothing. Google automatically identifies eligible users and sends payments after final approval. If you never linked PayPal/Venmo to Google Play, Google will contact you with alternative payment options.

Important Deadlines

• February 19, 2026: Deadline to opt out or object
• April 30, 2026: Final approval hearing
• Settlement website: GooglePlayStateAGAntitrustLitigation.com

Active Settlements Requiring Claims

$30 Million YouTube Kids Privacy Settlement

Who Qualifies: Anyone under age 13 who watched kids’ content on YouTube between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020

Why Google Settled: FTC alleged YouTube illegally collected personal information from children without parental consent, violating COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act).

How to Claim:

1. Visit YouTubePrivacySettlement.com
2. Submit claim form with proof of eligibility
3. Provide details about YouTube usage during claim period

Payment Amount: Variable, depends on total claims filed

Claim Deadline: January 21, 2026

Final Approval: January 13, 2026

$28 Million Google Racial Bias Employee Settlement

Who Qualifies: Black, Hispanic, and female engineering employees who applied for or held technical positions at Google in California between September 2013 and September 2017

Payment Type: Automatic checks to covered employees

Settlement Details: Resolved allegations Google systematically discriminated in hiring and pay practices for engineering roles

What to Do: If you’re a covered employee, you’ll receive payment automatically—no claim form required

Google Incognito Mode Settlement: No Direct Payments

Google settled a $5 billion class action over Chrome’s incognito mode in December 2023, but there are no direct monetary payments to users from this settlement.

What Google Must Do:

• Delete billions of data records from private browsing
• Block third-party cookies in incognito mode by default
• Update disclosures about what incognito mode actually protects
• Stop logging whether users are in incognito mode

Can You Get Money? Yes, but only by filing individual lawsuits in California state courts. Over 1,000 people have already done this. Class action lawyers who negotiated the settlement requested $217.6 million in attorneys’ fees from Google.

Case Details: Brown v. Google LLC, Case No. 5:20-cv-03664 (N.D. Cal.)

Location Tracking Settlements: Already Paid

Google paid nearly $2 billion to states for secretly tracking users’ locations even after they disabled location tracking. These settlements are already distributed—no new claims accepted.

Major Location Settlements:

• $1.375 billion to Texas (May 2025) – Already paid to state treasury
• $391.5 million to 40 states (November 2022) – Distributed to participating states
• $93 million to California (September 2023) – Paid to state
• $29.5 million to Indiana and Washington (2023) – Distributed

These were state enforcement actions—individual consumers did not receive direct payments. The money went to state treasuries.

PayPal Honey Extension Lawsuit: Dismissed But Not Dead

A federal judge dismissed the PayPal Honey Extension class action on November 21, 2025, but gave influencers 45 days to file an amended complaint addressing critical flaws.

What Happened:

• YouTuber MegaLag’s December 2024 investigation exposed Honey allegedly stealing affiliate commissions from content creators
• Lawsuit filed December 29, 2024, alleging Honey replaced creators’ tracking cookies with its own
• Judge ruled influencers failed to prove they were entitled to disputed commissions under their merchant contracts

Current Status: Case No. 5:24-cv-09470-BLF (N.D. Cal.)

• Dismissed without prejudice on November 21, 2025
• Influencers have 45 days from dismissal to amend complaint
• Must prove contractual entitlement to commissions
• Multiple related cases filed by different creator groups

How Influencers Can Amend Claims:

1. Obtain and review actual merchant affiliate agreements
2. Include specific contract terms proving commission entitlement
3. Demonstrate how Honey’s actions violated those specific agreements
4. Show concrete financial injury traceable to PayPal

Who’s Affected: Social media influencers, bloggers, YouTubers, and content creators who used affiliate links while users had Honey extension installed

The Allegations: Honey browser extension allegedly used “cookie stuffing” to replace creators’ affiliate tracking codes at checkout, diverting commissions ranging from 1-20% of purchase prices to PayPal instead of rightful creators.

How to Determine If You Qualify for Any Settlement

Google Play Store Settlement ($700M): ✓ Made any purchase on Google Play between August 2016 – September 2023 ✓ Lived in participating states (38 states total) ✓ No action needed—payment automatic

YouTube Kids Privacy Settlement ($30M): ✓ Were under 13 years old during July 2013 – April 2020 ✓ Watched YouTube kids’ content during that period ✓ Must file claim by January 21, 2026

Google Employee Racial Bias Settlement ($28M): ✓ Worked or applied for engineering roles at Google California ✓ During September 2013 – September 2017 ✓ Identify as Black, Hispanic, or female ✓ Payments automatic if covered

Incognito Mode Settlement: ✓ Used Chrome incognito mode between June 1, 2016, and settlement date ✓ Must file individual lawsuit in California state court ✓ No class action payment available

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Claiming

For YouTube Kids Settlement:

• Missing January 21, 2026 deadline
• Failing to provide adequate proof of child’s age during claim period
• Not documenting YouTube usage properly
• Submitting claims for children over age 13 at time of usage

For Google Play Settlement:

• Opting out unnecessarily (you lose payment but can still sue separately)
• Ignoring communication from settlement administrator
• Not updating PayPal/Venmo information if payment fails

For Individual Incognito Lawsuits:

• Missing California statute of limitations deadlines
• Filing without sufficient evidence of Chrome incognito usage
• Not documenting specific damages from privacy violations

What Documentation You Need

YouTube Kids Privacy Claims:

• Child’s birthdate proving they were under 13
• Evidence of YouTube account usage during claim period
• Parent/guardian information
• Description of content watched

Google Play Store Settlement:

• Nothing required—Google has purchase records
• Update PayPal/Venmo if needed

Incognito Mode Individual Lawsuits:

• Chrome browsing history records
• Evidence of incognito mode usage
• Documentation of privacy expectations
• Proof of harm from data collection

Payment Timelines

Google Play Store: Payments begin after April 30, 2026 final approval, likely by mid-2026

YouTube Kids: Payments distributed after January 13, 2026 final approval hearing, assuming court approves settlement

Google Employee Settlement: Payments processing now for covered employees

Incognito Lawsuits: Depends on individual case outcomes—no set timeline

Recent Legal Developments Affecting Claims

November 21, 2025: Federal judge dismissed PayPal Honey lawsuit but allowed amended complaint within 45 days

April 2024: Google finalized incognito mode settlement requiring data deletion, not cash payments

May 2025: Texas secured record $1.375 billion from Google for location tracking violations

January 2026 (upcoming): YouTube kids privacy settlement final approval hearing scheduled

How Different Google Settlements Compare

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if I’m included in the Google Play Store settlement?

A: If you made any purchase on Google Play between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023, you’re automatically included. Check your Google Play purchase history to confirm.

Q: Why didn’t I receive payment from the incognito mode settlement?

A: The settlement required Google to delete data and change practices, not pay users directly. You can file an individual lawsuit in California state court for monetary damages.

Q: Can I claim multiple Google settlements?
A: Yes, if you qualify for each one separately. The settlements cover different issues and time periods.

Q: What happens if I miss the YouTube kids privacy claim deadline?

A: You forfeit your right to payment from that settlement. The January 21, 2026 deadline is firm.

Q: How much will I actually receive from the Google Play settlement?

A: Minimum $2, but amount increases based on your total spending. Heavy users of paid apps, subscriptions, and in-app purchases receive more.

Q: Can influencers still join the PayPal Honey lawsuit after it was dismissed?

A: Yes. The dismissal was without prejudice, allowing an amended complaint. Contact class counsel if you’re an affected content creator. New plaintiffs may join before the amended complaint deadline.

Q: Do I need a lawyer to claim Google settlement money?

A: No for the Google Play Store and YouTube kids settlements—just submit claims directly. Yes for individual incognito mode lawsuits in California courts.

Q: Will Google settlements affect my taxes?

A: Settlement payments may be taxable income. Consult a tax professional about reporting requirements for your specific situation.

What Claimants Should Know Before Submitting

Verify Settlement Legitimacy: Only use official settlement websites listed in court documents. Scammers create fake claim sites.

Official Settlement Websites:

• Google Play Store: GooglePlayStateAGAntitrustLitigation.com
• YouTube Kids: YouTubePrivacySettlement.com

Watch for Scams: Never pay fees to claim settlement money. Legitimate settlements never require upfront payment.

Keep Documentation: Save all claim confirmations, settlement notices, and communications with settlement administrators.

Check Deadlines: Courts rarely extend claim deadlines. Mark calendars for critical dates.

Understand Payment Methods: Google Play settlement uses PayPal/Venmo linked to your Google account. Update information if needed.

Read Settlement Terms: Understand what rights you’re giving up. Accepting a settlement usually bars future lawsuits over the same claims.

Consider Opting Out: If you have a strong individual case worth more than the settlement payment, consider opting out and filing your own lawsuit. Consult an attorney first.

What’s Next for Google Litigation

Google faces ongoing antitrust trials over search monopolization and advertising practices. The company also battles lawsuits from the Department of Justice over digital advertising dominance, with a September 2025 trial scheduled.

Additional privacy lawsuits remain active in multiple jurisdictions. Content creators continue investigating affiliate link manipulation by browser extensions including Honey.

State attorneys general maintain pressure on big tech companies over data collection practices, consumer protection violations, and anticompetitive behavior. More Google settlements likely ahead.

Sources: Court documents from U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; settlement administration websites GooglePlayStateAGAntitrustLitigation.com and YouTubePrivacySettlement.com; state attorney general press releases; PACER federal court records; legal filings in Brown v. Google LLC (Case No. 5:20-cv-03664); In re PayPal Honey Browser Extension Litigation (Case No. 5:24-cv-09470-BLF).

Last Updated: December 2025. Settlement terms and deadlines subject to court approval and modification. Verify current information on official settlement websites.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
Read more about Sarah