In a major legal blow to one of the world’s most powerful tech companies, a California jury has ordered Google to pay $314.6 million in damages after it was found guilty of secretly collecting data from Android phones, even when users believed their devices were inactive. The class-action lawsuit centered around allegations that Google violated privacy expectations and consumer trust by continuing to harvest personal information without explicit user consent.

The lawsuit revealed that Google had gathered behavioral data from approximately 14 million Android users while their phones were not actively being used. This data was reportedly channeled into its advertising ecosystem to help refine ad targeting strategies, all without notifying users or obtaining meaningful consent.

Although Google argued that its terms of service and privacy policy provided users with information about data practices, the court found those disclosures to be inadequate. The jury ruled that Google’s practices were misleading, particularly because they gave users the impression that turning off certain settings would stop data tracking, which, in reality, it did not.

In response, a spokesperson from Google defended the company’s data collection mechanisms, stating they were crucial for ensuring the performance, reliability, and security of the Android platform. Nonetheless, the jury sided with plaintiffs, citing a lack of transparency and deceptive communication.

Legal experts believe the outcome of this case could serve as a precedent in future privacy litigation. It may influence how regulators approach similar issues and could accelerate the push for stricter privacy regulations in the U.S. and beyond.

While Google is expected to appeal the ruling, the case highlights the growing global demand for tech companies to prioritize user consent and transparency. For firms that rely heavily on passive data collection, this verdict signals the need for a major shift toward ethical and user-friendly privacy standards.