New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a consumer alert with new information for New Yorkers seeking restitution from a $700 million settlement with Google. The settlement, reached in December 2023 by Attorney General James and a coalition of 53 attorneys general, addresses allegations that Google suppressed competition and raised prices unfairly for consumers.
Attorney General James and the bipartisan coalition sued Google in 2021, alleging that the company unlawfully maintained a monopoly over mobile app distribution and in-app payment processing on Android devices. The lawsuit claimed Google used its dominant position to charge consumers up to 30 percent in fees for app purchases and in-app transactions.
The majority of the settlement funds are intended for consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023. If approved by the court, affected consumers will be eligible for payments from the fund. Additionally, Google is required to implement changes to address its anticompetitive practices.
“When big corporations use their monopoly power to stifle competition and raise costs, consumers pay the price,” said Attorney General James. “For years, Google took advantage of its control over its app store to overcharge its customers and box out competing developers. I urge all New Yorkers who may be eligible for restitution to follow the settlement instructions to ensure they get their money back.”
Google has already contributed $630 million into the settlement fund. Starting December 2, 2025, consumers who made qualifying purchases began receiving notices about how to claim their share of the settlement. In most cases, no action is required; payments will be made automatically without a claim form.
After court approval of the settlement, consumers will receive notifications via email from PayPal or text message from Venmo at contact details associated with their Google Play account. If these details match an existing PayPal or Venmo account, payments will be sent directly. Otherwise, recipients can create an account or redirect payment as needed.
A supplemental claims process will follow automatic payments for those who do not have PayPal or Venmo accounts and do not wish to sign up; no longer have access to their registered contact information; or expected but did not receive payment. Consumers interested in updates about this process can submit their contact information on the official settlement website.
Key upcoming dates include February 19, 2026—the deadline for those wishing to exclude themselves from the settlement or file objections—and April 30, 2026, when a court hearing is scheduled regarding final approval of the agreement.
This case was handled in New York by former Senior Enforcement Counsel Bryan Bloom, Assistant Attorney General Ben Cole, and former Assistant Attorney General Olga Kogan under Bureau Chief Elinor Hoffmann of the Antitrust Bureau within the Division for Economic Justice.