SEATTLE—Millions of Android users across the United States, including thousands in Washington state, will soon see money hit their PayPal or Venmo accounts as part of a $700 million settlement with Google over alleged monopolistic control of the Google Play Store.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced Tuesday that the payment process has officially begun for the nationwide agreement reached in 2023 by his office and a bipartisan coalition of 52 other attorneys general and territories.
The states accused Google of illegally maintaining a monopoly over app distribution and in-app payment processing on Android devices, allowing the tech giant to impose fees as high as 30 percent on app purchases and digital goods — costs ultimately passed on to consumers.
“No one is above the law,” Brown said in a statement. “Washington will always stand up to corporate monopolies to protect consumers and entrepreneurs from unfair practices. We are proud to deliver this money for Washingtonians.”
Notices about the payout process began arriving December 2, 2025. Unlike many class-action settlements, the vast majority of eligible consumers will receive money automatically with no claim form required. Payments will be sent automatically via PayPal or Venmo to the email address or phone number tied to each user’s Google Play account from August 2016 through September 2023.
If the contact information does not match an existing PayPal or Venmo account, recipients can create one or redirect the funds to a different account. A later supplemental claims process will assist those who no longer have access to their original contact details or prefer a different payment method.
The settlement received preliminary court approval earlier, with a final fairness hearing scheduled for April 30, 2026, in federal court. Consumers wishing to opt out and preserve their right to sue Google individually or to file objections must do so by February 19, 2026.
Every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands joined the enforcement action — one of the largest consumer-focused antitrust settlements against a major technology company in recent years.
Google has maintained that its Play Store policies are lawful and benefit both developers and users, but agreed to the settlement without admitting wrongdoing.
Eligible consumers who have not received a notice but believe they qualify can visit the official settlement website for more information, though the site may be inaccessible when using certain VPN connections.
Attorney General Brown urged Washington residents to watch for incoming PayPal emails or Venmo texts in the coming months and to take advantage of money secured on their behalf.
If you believe you are eligible for the settlement but have not received a notice, visit the settlement website.
Author: Mario Lotmore
