Automatic payments coming for PA Google Play users as part of antitrust deal

Pennsylvania consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 are eligible to receive restitution payments from a national $700 million antitrust settlement with Google.

The Commonwealth is expected to receive approximately $20.5 million of the total settlement fund for impacted consumers, who will mostly receive their payments automatically, , the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office announced.

The settlement also mandates that Google cease its alleged anticompetitive practices.

The court granted preliminary approval for the settlement last week. 

Final distribution of funds is anticipated in the spring.

“When any corporation uses their monopoly power to stifle competition and raise costs, consumers pay the price,” Attorney General David Sunday said. “While impacted consumers are expected to receive payments automatically, Pennsylvanians who used this app should still pay close attention to the timeline and other details of the settlement.”

The majority of eligible consumers will not need to file a claim form to receive their payment.

• Once the settlement is finalized and approved by the court, the settlement fund will initiate automatic payments.
• Consumers will be notified of their incoming payment via an email from PayPal or a text message from Venmo, sent to the address or mobile number associated with their Google Play account.
• If that contact information matches an existing PayPal or Venmo account, the payment will be made directly.
• If there is no matching account, consumers will be given the option to create a new PayPal or Venmo account or direct the payment to a different one.

A supplemental claims process will be made available after the initial automatic payments for consumers who:

• Do not have and do not wish to create a PayPal or Venmo account.
• No longer have access to the email address or mobile phone number linked to their Google Play account.
• Believe they were entitled to a payment but did not receive one.

Consumers can submit their contact information on the settlement website to receive an email notification when the supplemental claims process begins.

Sunday urged consumers to note the following upcoming deadlines:

• Feb. 19, 2026: Deadline for consumers to submit a request to be excluded from the settlement if they wish to pursue their own case against Google. This is also the deadline to file a written objection to the settlement.
• April 30, 2026: The court is scheduled to hold a hearing to consider final approval of the settlement.