Google Privacy Lawsuit, $425M Verdict Under Appeal Plus New Children’s Privacy Settlements—What Users Need to Know (2026)
Google faces mounting privacy litigation in January 2026, including a $425 million Gmail verdict under appeal and new children’s privacy settlements totaling over $38 million. If you used Gmail between 2016 and 2024 with tracking disabled, or if your child used Google apps, you may be affected—but claim processes vary significantly depending on which lawsuit applies to you.
The $425 Million Rodriguez Gmail Privacy Verdict
What the Lawsuit Alleges About Google’s Tracking
In September 2025, a California federal jury found Google liable for continuing to collect data from 98 million users who had turned off the “Web & App Activity” tracking setting in their Google accounts. The verdict ordered Google to pay $425 million for violating California’s Invasion of Privacy Act and Unfair Competition Law.
The case, Rodriguez v. Google LLC, alleges Google unlawfully accessed users’ mobile devices to collect, save, and use data about their activity on non-Google apps that incorporated Google’s software code—even when users explicitly disabled tracking. Plaintiffs claim 70% of websites use Google Analytics, making it virtually impossible to avoid Google’s tracking without staying off the internet entirely.
Lead plaintiff Rene Rodriguez, represented by Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP, argued Google’s practices violated users’ reasonable expectations of privacy. The case centers on whether Google’s continued data collection after users opted out constitutes unauthorized access under California privacy laws.
Google’s Appeal and What It Means for Payments
Google denied all allegations and immediately appealed the $425 million verdict. The company argued its data collection practices were disclosed in user agreements and that users consented to these practices when creating Google accounts. Google’s legal team contends the jury misunderstood how opt-out settings function and what data collection occurs after users disable tracking.
Until the appeals process concludes and the court grants final approval, no claim form exists for affected users. Google’s appeal could take 12 to 24 months to resolve through the California appellate courts. If Google’s appeal succeeds, no settlement money will be distributed to class members.
Meanwhile, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking $2.36 billion in additional damages, claiming Google’s privacy violations continue even after the September 2025 verdict. This motion argues Google has not changed its data collection practices and continues to track users who have disabled Web & App Activity settings.
Who’s Affected and Potential Recovery Amounts
The class includes approximately 98 million Gmail users who turned off Web & App Activity tracking between July 2016 and September 2024. If the $425 million verdict stands and gets distributed equally among all class members, each person would receive approximately $4.33 before legal fees and administrative costs.
However, similar to other major Google class action lawsuits like the $700 million Google Play Store settlement, actual per-person payments depend on how many people file claims, administrative costs, and attorney fees which typically range from 25% to 33% of the total settlement amount.
Class members should monitor the official settlement website at www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com for updates on the appeal status and eventual claim procedures if the verdict is upheld.
Google’s Children’s Privacy Settlements in 2026
$8.25 Million AdMob Data Collection Settlement
Google agreed to pay $8.25 million on January 15, 2026, to settle a class action centered on claims it habitually and illegally collected data from devices belonging to children under age 13. The lawsuit alleged Google’s AdMob software development kit collected data from children at scale through apps labeled “Designed for Families.”
Parents of six minors who downloaded games like Fun Kid Racing and GummyBear and Friends Speed Racing sued under the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). COPPA blocks companies from knowingly collecting personal data from children 12 and younger unless a parent consents.
The settlement, officially titled In re Google AdMob Privacy Litigation, received preliminary approval in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Final approval is expected in March or April 2026, after which claim procedures will be announced. Parents of affected children should watch for official notices from the settlement administrator.
$30 Million YouTube Privacy Settlement with January 21, 2026 Deadline
A separate $30 million settlement addresses YouTube privacy violations affecting children. This settlement, known as Hubbard v. Google, involves allegations that YouTube collected personal information from children without proper parental consent, building advertising profiles and serving targeted ads to minors.
Critical deadline: Parents must file claims by January 21, 2026, at YouTubePrivacySettlement.com. The settlement covers children who watched YouTube videos while logged into accounts registered to users under age 13, or children who watched YouTube Kids content between 2015 and 2019.
To file a claim, parents need documentation showing their child used YouTube or YouTube Kids during the class period, including account creation dates, viewing history if available, or screenshots of children’s YouTube usage. Each valid claim could result in payments ranging from $50 to $200 depending on the total number of claims filed.
What COPPA Violations Mean for Tech Companies
These settlements highlight ongoing concerns about tech companies’ data collection practices affecting minors. COPPA requires verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13, including names, email addresses, geolocation data, photos, videos, or persistent identifiers that track users across websites.
Understanding your rights in privacy class action lawsuits helps parents protect children and potentially recover compensation when platforms violate children’s privacy protections. The Federal Trade Commission actively enforces COPPA, having previously fined YouTube $170 million in 2019 for similar violations.
How to Determine If You’re Affected
For Gmail Users in the Rodriguez Case
Check whether you had a Gmail account between July 2016 and September 2024 and ever turned off the “Web & App Activity” setting in your Google Account settings. You can verify this by logging into your Google Account, clicking “Data & Privacy,” and checking your “Web & App Activity” history and settings.
If you disabled this setting at any point during the class period, you’re likely a class member. However, you cannot file a claim yet—Google’s appeal must be resolved first. Bookmark www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com and check it every 2-3 months for updates on the appeal and eventual claim procedures.
For Parents of Children Who Used Google Services
For the YouTube settlement, determine if your child watched YouTube content while logged into an account registered to someone under age 13, or used YouTube Kids between 2015 and 2019. Gather account creation emails, viewing history screenshots, or other documentation showing your child’s YouTube usage.
File your claim before January 21, 2026, at YouTubePrivacySettlement.com. Don’t wait until the last minute—technical issues or documentation problems may require time to resolve.
For the AdMob settlement, determine if your child used mobile apps labeled “Designed for Families” that contained Google’s AdMob advertising between 2013 and 2024. Watch for official settlement notices after final court approval, expected in spring 2026.
What to Do Next
Monitor Case Developments
For the Rodriguez Gmail case, check www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com quarterly for appeal updates. You can also monitor the federal court docket through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) using case number 3:20-cv-04688-JD in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
For both children’s privacy settlements, register your email at the official settlement websites to receive automatic updates about claim deadlines, court approval hearings, and payment distributions.
Gather Documentation Now
Even though Rodriguez claims aren’t open yet, start gathering documentation now. Screenshot your Google Account settings showing Web & App Activity is disabled, save emails from Google about privacy settings changes, and document your Google service usage during the class period.
For children’s privacy claims, locate app purchase receipts, account creation confirmations, and usage records. Mobile device backup files sometimes contain app usage data that can support your claim.
Understand Opt-Out Rights
If you want to preserve your right to sue Google separately for privacy violations, you may need to exclude yourself from the class action by submitting an opt-out request. For the Rodriguez case, the opt-out deadline is February 19, 2026.
By opting out, you give up potential settlement payments but can pursue your own lawsuit. Most legal experts recommend staying in the class action unless you have documented evidence of substantial individual damages exceeding potential class payments—typically thousands of dollars in proven harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I receive money from the $425 million Google privacy verdict?
Not yet, and possibly never. Google appealed the verdict, which could take 12 to 24 months to resolve. If Google’s appeal succeeds, no settlement money will be distributed. If the verdict stands and payments occur, eligible class members would receive approximately $4 to $5 each before attorney fees and administrative costs, which could reduce individual payments to $2 to $3.
How do I file a claim for the Google children’s privacy settlements?
For the $30 million YouTube settlement, visit YouTubePrivacySettlement.com before January 21, 2026. You’ll need documentation showing your child used YouTube or YouTube Kids during the class period. For the $8.25 million AdMob settlement, watch for claim procedures following final court approval expected in spring 2026. Settlement administrators will send notices to potentially affected parents and publish claim instructions online.
What information did Google allegedly collect from children?
The lawsuits allege Google collected persistent identifiers, device information, geolocation data, and behavioral data from children under 13 without proper parental consent. This data was allegedly used to build advertising profiles and serve targeted ads to minors, violating COPPA’s requirement for verifiable parental consent before collecting children’s personal information.
Can I still file privacy claims against Google if I’m part of the class?
Yes, but only if you opt out of the class action before the exclusion deadline. For the Rodriguez case, you must submit an opt-out request by February 19, 2026. By opting out, you preserve your right to sue Google separately but forfeit any class settlement payments. Most attorneys recommend staying in the class unless you have significant documented damages.
How long do privacy class actions typically take to resolve?
Major privacy class actions typically take 2 to 4 years from initial filing to settlement distribution. The Rodriguez case filed in July 2020 still hasn’t resolved as of January 2026—nearly 6 years later. Appeals can add 12 to 24 months to the timeline. After final approval, settlement administrators need 6 to 12 months for claim processing and payment distribution.
What happens if Google wins its appeal?
If Google’s appeal succeeds, the $425 million verdict is vacated and no payments go to class members. The case could be sent back for a new trial, settled for a lower amount, or dismissed entirely. Class members would have no further claim to compensation from this particular lawsuit, though they could potentially join future privacy lawsuits against Google if new violations occur.
How much could parents receive from the children’s privacy settlements?
For the $30 million YouTube settlement, individual payments typically range from $50 to $200 depending on the total number of valid claims filed. For the $8.25 million AdMob settlement, payments will likely be smaller—potentially $20 to $75 per child. Final amounts depend on claim volume, with higher claim numbers resulting in lower per-person payments due to pro rata distribution of the settlement fund.
Last Updated: January 24, 2026
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Google privacy litigation and is not legal advice. Individuals should consult qualified attorneys specializing in privacy litigation or consumer protection for case-specific guidance.
Don’t miss claim deadlines—especially the January 21, 2026 YouTube settlement deadline. Monitor official settlement websites regularly and protect your privacy rights.
Stay informed, stay protected. — AllAboutLawyer.com
Sources:
- Rodriguez v. Google LLC, Case No. 3:20-cv-04688-JD (N.D. Cal.)
- In re Google AdMob Privacy Litigation settlement agreement (January 15, 2026)
- Hubbard v. Google YouTube privacy settlement
- Official settlement websites: GoogleWebAppActivityLawsuit.com, YouTubePrivacySettlement.com
- California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA)
- Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), 15 U.S.C. § 6501
- Federal Trade Commission COPPA enforcement guidance
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.
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