Google Play Store Lawsuit, $8.25M Settlement Over Children’s Privacy Violations—Millions Of Kids Affected By AdMob Data Collection
Google agreed to pay $8.25 million in January 2026 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging the tech giant illegally collected personal data from children under 13 through apps in its “Designed for Families” program. Between 3.8 and 10 million children who downloaded family-friendly apps from the Google Play Store may be eligible for compensation after Google’s AdMob software allegedly tracked them without parental consent.
The settlement resolves claims that Google violated the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting device identifiers and other personal information from children playing games like Fun Kid Racing and GummyBear and Friends Speed Racing between 2015 and 2021.
Who Gets Paid From This Settlement?
Eligible Class Members:
- Children who were under 13 years old when they downloaded or used apps from Google Play Store’s “Designed for Families” program
- Apps were used between 2015 and 2021
- Their personal information was collected by Google’s AdMob technology
- They lived in the United States
Payment Amount:
- Estimated $0.82 to $2.17 per child (before attorneys’ fees and costs)
- Based on $8.25 million total settlement fund
- Between 3.8 million and 10 million eligible children
How To Claim:
- NO settlement website exists yet – settlement filed January 14, 2026, awaiting preliminary court approval
- Once approved, official settlement website will be announced with claim forms
- Class members will receive notice by mail/email
- Must file claim by court-ordered deadline (to be announced)
- Payments distributed after final court approval (estimated late 2026 or early 2027)
Who Cannot Claim:
- Children already covered by New Mexico AG’s separate $5 million Google settlement from December 2021
- Directors/officers of Google
- The judge and court staff
What Is The Google Play Store Children’s Privacy Lawsuit About?
Parents of six minor children filed this lawsuit in June 2023, alleging Google’s advertising technology collected data from their children at scale without obtaining required parental consent.
The case centers on Google’s “Designed for Families” (DFF) program, which launched in 2015 to help parents identify child-safe apps on the Google Play Store. To participate in this program, app developers had to pledge compliance with COPPA—the federal law that prohibits knowingly collecting personal data from children 12 and younger without parental permission.
However, the lawsuit claims Google’s AdMob software development kit embedded in these apps continued collecting children’s device information even when developers certified their apps as compliant with children’s privacy laws.
The lead plaintiff, California resident Jen Turner, sued on behalf of her child and millions of others. Five additional parents joined as class representatives: James Archey, Nadeja Hinds, James Berg, Stephen Kunze, and Isaiah Soto.
How Did Google’s AdMob Technology Track Children?
Google’s AdMob is an advertising platform that app developers integrate into their mobile applications to serve ads and generate revenue. AdMob uses software development kits (SDKs)—small pieces of code embedded directly into apps—to collect data about users and deliver targeted advertisements.
The lawsuit alleges AdMob collected persistent device identifiers from children’s smartphones and tablets while they played games marketed as family-friendly. These unique identifiers allow advertisers to track users across different apps and websites to build detailed profiles for targeted advertising.
According to the complaint, even after Google banned certain problematic apps from the Play Store in 2018, AdMob allegedly continued collecting data from children’s devices through 2021 if those apps remained installed on phones.
The apps in question included games developed by Tiny Lab Productions such as Fun Kid Racing, Monster Truck Racing, and GummyBear and Friends Speed Racing. All were labeled as part of Google’s Designed for Families program, signaling to parents these apps were appropriate and safe for young children.
Understanding COPPA: The Law Google Allegedly Violated
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act is a 1998 federal law that establishes strict requirements for websites and online services that collect information from children under 13 years old.
Under COPPA, companies must provide clear notice of their data collection practices to parents, obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children, and give parents the right to review and delete their child’s information.
“Personal information” under COPPA includes not just names and addresses, but also persistent identifiers like device IDs, IP addresses, and unique user identifiers that enable tracking across websites or apps over time.
The FTC enforces COPPA violations and has previously fined Google for similar conduct. In 2019, Google paid $170 million to the FTC and New York State to settle allegations that YouTube violated COPPA by collecting data from children watching kids’ content.
The current lawsuit represents private civil enforcement by parents seeking damages for the alleged privacy violations, separate from any government regulatory action.
What Makes This Settlement Significant?
The proposed $8.25 million settlement came to light on January 14, 2026, when attorneys filed settlement papers with Judge P. Casey Pitts in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case is officially titled A.B. v. Google LLC, Case No. 5:23-cv-03101.
This settlement represents one of the largest private class action recoveries for children’s privacy violations related to mobile apps. The estimated class size ranges from 3.8 million to 10 million children who downloaded DFF-designated apps and had their information collected by Google.
Notably, children covered by a similar settlement the New Mexico Attorney General secured in December 2021—where Google paid $5 million—are excluded from this class to avoid duplicate recovery.
The settlement came after Judge Pitts denied Google’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit in June 2024. Google had argued unsuccessfully that the statute of limitations barred most claims because the company banned the problematic apps from the Play Store in 2018.
However, plaintiffs’ attorneys countered that even though Google removed Tiny Lab apps, AdMob continued operating on devices where children had already downloaded the games, collecting data through 2021—well within the limitations period.
Who Qualifies For The Settlement And How Much Will They Receive?
The settlement class includes all individuals residing in the United States who were younger than 13 years old when they downloaded or used an app from the Google Play Store’s Designed for Families program and had their personal information collected by Google.
Specific exclusions apply. You cannot participate if you’re a director or officer of Google, a governmental entity, or the judge, judge’s family members, or court staff assigned to this case.
Settlement distribution details—including individual payment amounts, claim procedures, and filing deadlines—have not been publicly released yet because the court must grant preliminary approval before the settlement administrator issues notice to class members.
Based on the $8.25 million fund divided among 3.8 to 10 million eligible children, individual payments could range from approximately $0.82 to $2.17 per child before deductions for attorneys’ fees, administrative costs, and class representative service awards.
Class counsel will request court approval for attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, which typically range from 25% to 33% of the settlement fund in class actions. The six class representatives may also receive service awards for representing the class.
How To Get Your Settlement Money: Step-By-Step Process
IMPORTANT: No settlement website or claim forms are available yet. The settlement was just proposed on January 14, 2026, and must receive preliminary court approval before the claims process begins.
Here’s exactly what will happen and how you’ll receive payment:
Step 1: Court Grants Preliminary Approval (Estimated: February-March 2026)
Judge Pitts must first review the proposed settlement and decide whether it’s fair enough to notify class members. This typically takes 4-8 weeks after the settlement filing.
Step 2: Settlement Administrator Creates Official Website (After Preliminary Approval)
Once approved, a settlement administrator will be appointed to create an official settlement website. This website will include:
- Complete settlement agreement documents
- Claim form (online and downloadable PDF)
- Detailed eligibility requirements
- Step-by-step claim filing instructions
- Contact information for questions
- All important deadlines
Watch for the official settlement website announcement. The website URL will be published in court documents and notices sent to class members. Do not trust any website claiming to offer Google Play Store children’s privacy settlement claims before preliminary approval is granted.
Step 3: Class Members Receive Notice (After Preliminary Approval)
If you’re identified as a class member based on Google’s records, you’ll receive notice by:
- Email to the address associated with your Google account
- U.S. Mail to your last known address
The notice will explain your rights, the settlement terms, how to file a claim, and all important deadlines.
Step 4: File Your Claim (Deadline Set After Preliminary Approval)
To receive payment, you must submit a claim form by the court-ordered deadline. Claim forms will be available:
- Online at the official settlement website
- By mail (request from settlement administrator)
- By phone (call settlement administrator for assistance)
You’ll need to provide:
- Your child’s information confirming they were under 13 during the class period
- Google account information used to download DFF apps
- Contact information for payment delivery
- Possibly documentation proving app downloads (though settlement may use Google’s records)
Step 5: Court Grants Final Approval (Estimated: 6-9 Months After Filing)
The court will hold a final approval hearing where Judge Pitts decides whether to approve the settlement. Class members can object to the settlement terms before this hearing if they disagree with any provisions.
Step 6: Payments Distributed (After Final Approval and Any Appeals)
Only after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved will the settlement administrator begin issuing payments. This typically occurs 90-120 days after final approval.
Payments will be sent via:
- Check by U.S. Mail
- Electronic payment (PayPal, Venmo, or direct deposit if offered)
- Method specified in your claim form
Expected timeline for payments: Late 2026 or early 2027 if no appeals are filed.
Where To Find Official Settlement Information
Since no settlement website exists yet, here’s where to monitor for updates:
Court Records:
- Case Name: A.B. v. Google LLC
- Case Number: 5:23-cv-03101
- Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- Judge: Hon. P. Casey Pitts
- Access records: www.pacer.gov (requires free account)
Settlement Administrator (Once Appointed): After preliminary approval, the settlement administrator’s contact information will be published in court documents. This will include:
- Official settlement website URL
- Toll-free phone number
- Email address
- Mailing address for claim forms
Class Counsel: If you have questions before the settlement website launches, you can contact the attorneys representing the class:
- Law firms will be listed in the settlement agreement filed with the court
- Contact information available through court records on PACER
Important: Never pay any fees to file a claim. Legitimate settlements never require upfront payment. If someone contacts you demanding payment to claim your settlement money, it’s a scam.
Google’s Response And Denials
Google denies all allegations of wrongdoing and liability in this lawsuit. The company maintains it did not violate COPPA or any other laws regarding children’s privacy.
According to Google’s position, the settlement simply avoids the costs, risks, and uncertainties of continuing litigation through trial and potential appeals. Companies frequently settle class actions without admitting liability to achieve finality and avoid the expense and distraction of prolonged legal battles.
Google has faced numerous privacy-related lawsuits in recent years. The company settled a $425 million privacy verdict for allegedly tracking 98 million Gmail users who disabled privacy settings, though that case remains under appeal. Google also settled a $700 million antitrust case over Google Play Store practices.
The pattern of repeated privacy settlements raises questions about Google’s data collection practices and whether the company adequately prioritizes user privacy—particularly for vulnerable populations like children.
What Parents Should Know About Protecting Children’s Privacy Online
This settlement highlights the ongoing challenges parents face in protecting their children’s digital privacy. Even apps explicitly marketed as “family-friendly” or “designed for kids” may collect extensive data through embedded advertising technology.
Here are practical steps parents can take to better protect children’s online privacy:
Review app permissions carefully before allowing children to download and install apps. Many apps request access to location, contacts, camera, and other sensitive information that children rarely need for basic functionality.
Use parental controls available on iOS and Android devices to restrict app downloads, in-app purchases, and data sharing. Both platforms offer settings specifically designed to protect children’s privacy and limit data collection.
Read privacy policies for apps your children use, particularly sections explaining data collection, sharing with third parties, and targeted advertising. While privacy policies can be lengthy and technical, focusing on the “Information We Collect” and “How We Share Your Information” sections provides crucial insights.
Consider using kid-safe devices or tablets configured specifically for children rather than allowing young kids to use adult devices where privacy settings may not adequately protect them.
Talk to children age-appropriately about online privacy, explaining that games and apps often collect information about how they’re used, and why protecting personal information matters.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Google Play Store Lawsuit
Where is the settlement website to file my claim?
No settlement website exists yet because the court hasn’t granted preliminary approval. Once Judge Pitts approves the settlement for notice to class members (estimated February-March 2026), a settlement administrator will create an official website with claim forms, detailed instructions, and contact information. Monitor court records on PACER (Case No. 5:23-cv-03101) for updates.
When will I know if my child qualifies for payment?
Once the court grants preliminary approval, the settlement administrator will issue notice to class members. If you’re identified as a class member based on Google’s records, you’ll likely receive direct notification by mail or email with instructions for filing a claim. The notice will be sent to the address and email associated with your Google account used to download apps from the Play Store.
Do I need to prove my child downloaded these specific apps?
Settlement claim procedures haven’t been announced yet. Typically in data breach and privacy settlements, class members must provide some verification of eligibility, which might include confirming your child’s age during the relevant period and that they used a Google Play Store account. Specific documentation requirements will be detailed in the claim form when it becomes available.
Can I opt out and file my own lawsuit instead?
Yes. Class members typically have the right to exclude themselves from the settlement, preserving their ability to sue Google individually. However, individual lawsuits require hiring your own attorney at your own expense, and there’s no guarantee of recovery. The settlement provides a guaranteed recovery if approved, while opting out carries significant risk and cost.
What if my child was also affected by the YouTube privacy violations?
These are separate settlements covering different privacy violations. The YouTube privacy settlement covers children under 13 who watched child-directed YouTube content between July 2013 and April 2020, with a claim deadline of January 21, 2026. If your child qualifies for both settlements, you can file separate claims for each.
How does this settlement compare to other children’s privacy cases?
The $8.25 million Google Play settlement is substantial but smaller than the $30 million YouTube settlement or Google’s $170 million FTC fine. However, the per-person payment may be comparable depending on the final number of valid claims filed. Other recent privacy lawsuit settlements involving health apps and data tracking have reached similar amounts.
What happens to Google’s Designed for Families program now?
Google deprecated the Designed for Families program, though the settlement doesn’t require specific changes to Google’s business practices. The company maintains it has implemented policy changes to prevent future issues with children’s privacy compliance on the Play Store.
Last Updated: January 21, 2026
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
Stay informed about the Google Play Store children’s privacy settlement by monitoring official court filings and settlement administrator announcements as this case progresses through approval.
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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.
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