Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita
Photo provided by the attorney general’s office
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced Monday that eligible Hoosiers can start taking steps to receive their share of a $700 million national settlement with Google over alleged anticompetitive conduct.
The announcement comes after a bipartisan group of 53 attorneys general sued Google in 2021, alleging that it unlawfully monopolized the markets for Android app distribution and in-app payment processing.
The states alleged in court filings that Google signed anticompetitive contracts to prevent other app stores from being preloaded on Android devices, induced key app developers who might have launched rival app stores and created technological barriers to deter consumers from directly downloading apps to their devices.
Google has already paid $630 million into a settlement fund. Indiana consumers have collectively been allotted an estimated $10.5 million in restitution of the total $700 million national settlemen, Rokita said.
“This is a big win for all Hoosiers and consumers nationwide,” Rokita said in a statement. “For too long, big tech corporations have leveraged their monopoly power to extract profits at the expense of hardworking Americans. This final settlement, if approved, will put money back in the pockets of those it rightfully belongs to.”
People eligible for restitution do not have to submit a claim. In most cases, they will receive automatic payments through PayPal or Venmo, or they can elect to receive a check or ACH transfer.
Rokita advised Hoosiers who have or previously had a Google Play account to visit the settlement website and enter their contact information to “ensure that applicable consumers are notified once the final settlement has been approved by the court and funds start dispersing.”
The settlement website is www.googleplaystateagantitrustlitigation.com.
Beyond the $10.5 million in restitution paid to individual Hoosiers, the State of Indiana will also receive an anticipated $1.4 million in penalties paid by Google. Updated calculations will produce more precise monetary figures in the weeks to come.
Once the settlement has been approved by the court, consumers will receive an email from PayPal or a text from Venmo notifying them of their incoming payment at the email address or mobile phone number associated with their Google Play account, Rokita said.
If that email address or phone number is also associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then the payment will be made directly to that account.
If that email address or phone number does not match an email address or phone number associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then consumers have the option to create a new account or direct the payment to a PayPal or Venmo account at another email address or phone number.
If consumers would like to be notified by email when the supplemental claims process starts, they may submit their name, email address and mobile phone number on the settlement website, Rokita said.
Consumers who do not want to receive payment from the settlement fund and want to bring their own case against Google must submit a request to be excluded online or in writing by Feb. 19.
Consumers who want to object to the settlement can file a written objection by Feb. 19.
The court will hold a hearing on April 30 to consider approving the settlement agreement.
