Google Plus Class Action Settlement

UPDATE:

• TCA viewers reported this settlement paying out up to $2.15 as of Aug. 6, 2021.
• Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got paid!

A $7.5 million Google class action settlement resolves allegations that the now defunct Google+ social networking platform exposed users’ private profile data to third-parties.

If you had a Google Plus account between Jan. 1, 2015 and April 2, 2019 and had your personal information exposed due to “software bugs” announced on Oct. 8, 2018 and Dec. 10, 2018, you could get up to $12 from this class action settlement.

The Google Plus account class action lawsuit was filed in 2018 after plaintiffs Matt Matic and Zak Harris claimed that their user names, email addresses, interests, relationships, photos and hometowns were exposed in a massive data breach that benefited third-party app developers.

“Although Defendants have reported that only up to 500,000 users were affected, the reality is that this number is what was determined only for the two week period prior to the discovery of the security vulnerability in March 2018. Thus, given that the data leak occurred for nearly 3 years, the number of compromised users is expected to be much higher,” the Google Plus account class action lawsuit states.

The plaintiffs alleged that Google made a “calculated business decision” when they discovered the data leak and chose to hide this information from its Google Plus accountholders and the general public.

Under the terms of the Google Plus account class action settlement, Class Members who file a valid claim form are expected to receive a pro rata share of the settlement fund up to $12.

In addition, the settlement provides $200,000 in attorneys’ fees and $1,500 for each of the Class Representatives.

The settlement did not request any business practice changes because Google decided to shutdown the social media networking platform on April 2, 2019.

According to court documents, Google has denied all the allegations and not only “attacked injuries resulting from its alleged tortious behavior, but also argued the invasion of privacy could not proceed due to lack of intent, no reasonable expectation of privacy, and no breach of social norms.”

However, the Court preliminarily approved the Google Plus account class action settlement on June 10, 2020 after finding it to be “fair, reasonable and adequate, entered into in good faith, free of collusion, and within the range of possible judicial approval.”

Class Members have until Oct. 8, 2020 to either file a claim, opt out of the settlement or object to it. 

The final hearing will take place on Nov. 19, 2020.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members include all U.S. residents who had a Google+ account between Jan. 1, 2015 and April 2, 2019 and had their “non-public Profile Information exposed as a result of the software bugs Google announced on October 8, 2018 and December 10, 2018.”

Potential Award

Up to $12. 

According to the Google+ class action settlement, Class Members who file a valid claim form will receive a pro rata share of the fund starting with up to a $5 payment. However, if settlement funds remain after the initial $5 payout, an additional distribution of up to $12 (total) will be paid.

* The settlement also allows for a reduced payout of lower than $5 if the number of claimants exceed what is available in the settlement fund.

Proof of Purchase

Claimants must provide the email address associated with their Google+ account.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

10/8/2020

Case Name

In re: Google Plus Profile Litigation, Case No. 5:18-cv-06164, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Final Hearing

1/07/2021   UPDATED

Settlement Website

GooglePlusDataLitigation.com

Claims Administrator

Google Plus Data Litigation
1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
Philadelphia, PA, 19103
1-833-509-1101
info@GooglePlusDataLitigation.com

Class Counsel

John A. Yanchunis
Ryan J. McGee
MORGAN & MORGAN COMPLEX LITIGATION GROUP

Clayeo C. Arnold
Joshua H. Watson
CLAYEO C. ARNOLD PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION

Franklin D. Azar
Margeaux R. Azar
FRANKLIN D. AZAR & ASSOCIATES PC

Defense Counsel

Maura Lea Rees
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI PC

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

Class Action Lawsuit Accuses Google of Violating Chrome Users’ Privacy

New Surgical Stapler Lawsuit Filed Against Ethicon

Google Class Action Lawsuit Says Ads Placed On Non-Google Websites

A Guide to the Negative Impacts of OxyCide Cleaner