New York Attorney General Letitia James is urging residents to take steps to receive restitution from a $700 million national settlement with Google. The agreement resolves allegations that the company engaged in anticompetitive practices on the Google Play Store.
The settlement, reached in December 2023 by Attorney General James and a coalition of fifty-three attorneys general, states that Google unlawfully maintained a monopoly over app distribution and in-app payment processing on Android devices. As a result, consumers were charged up to thirty percent in fees for apps and in-app purchases.
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Most of the settlement funds will go directly to consumers who made purchases through the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023. Google must also implement business practice changes to correct the conduct identified in the lawsuit.
Google has already deposited 630 million dollars into the settlement fund. Beginning December 2, 2025, impacted consumers started receiving claims notices and, in most cases, will automatically receive payment once the settlement is granted final approval by the court.
Payments will be issued through PayPal or Venmo using the email or phone number associated with the consumer’s Google Play account. If no account is linked, consumers may set up a new PayPal or Venmo account using the same contact information or update their payment details when prompted.
A supplemental claims process will later be available for consumers who do not wish to use PayPal or Venmo, no longer have access to the contact information tied to their Google Play account, or believe they should have received a payment but did not. Users are encouraged to sign up on the settlement website to receive updates when the supplemental process becomes available.
Important dates include February 19, 2026, as the deadline to opt out of the settlement or file objections, and April 30, 2026, when the court will consider final approval.
Attorney General James encouraged eligible New Yorkers to ensure they receive the restitution they are owed. She noted that when large corporations use monopoly power to limit competition and drive up prices, consumers bear the burden. She emphasized that Google’s actions over many years resulted in customers being overcharged and competing developers being unfairly shut out of the marketplace. James urged residents to follow the settlement instructions carefully to recover the money they are entitled to.
