Consumers who made purchases in the Google Play Store between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023, and who live in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, will be eligible to receive $2 from Google as part of a settlement with the U.S. government and several states.
Google was accused of charging consumers too much for distributing apps on Android devices and charging unnecessary fees for in-app transactions. However, the company did not admit any wrongdoing.
The settlement, which was announced in September, requires Google to make changes to its Play Store policies. Under the new policies, developers will be allowed to offer alternative payment options to consumers for in-app purchases. Google has been testing this approach in the United States for over a year.
Wilson White, Google's vice president for government affairs and public policy, said that the settlement "builds on the choice and flexibility of Android." He added that it "will also help to protect consumers, developers, and the competitive landscape."
The settlement is a major victory for consumers and developers who have long criticized Google's control of the Android app market. It also represents a significant change in Google's approach to the Play Store.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the settlement:
- Google will pay $700 million to consumers.
- Google will be required to make changes to its Play Store policies.
- Developers will be allowed to offer alternative payment options to consumers for in-app purchases.
- The settlement is a major victory for consumers and developers.
The settlement is still subject to court approval.