Google reaches $700 million settlement with 53 State/Territorial Attorney Generals 

A bipartisan group of 53 attorneys general announced they have reached a $700 million settlement with Google in their 2021 lawsuit regarding Google’s anticompetitive conduct with the Google Play Store.

In total Google will pay $630 million in restitution, minus costs and fees, to consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive practices. Consumers eligible for restitution will not have to submit a claim and will receive automatic payments through PayPal, Venmo, check or ACH transfer.

Additionally Google will pay the states  $70 million in penalties. Minnesota is expected to receive roughly $1.16 million from the settlement. 

Not only will Google pay restitution to consumers, the settlement also requires Google to reform its business practices and make them more customer friendly. 

After the settlement was announced Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said “This settlement should act as a deterrent for companies who think they can get away with illegal, anticompetitive, anti-consumer practices. Minnesota and every other state are watching and we will hold you to account.”

The bipartisan group of attorney generals included the attorney generals from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.