Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan group of 52 attorneys general, today announced a $700 million agreement with Google to settle allegations of anticompetitive conduct related to the Google Play Store.
According to the settlement, Google will pay $630 million in restitution, minus costs and fees, to consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive practices. Google will also pay the states an additional $70 million in penalties.
"This settlement holds Google accountable for its anticompetitive market behavior making sure consumers in Illinois and across the nation receive the restitution they deserve,” Raoul said. "Consumers are left with limited choices and higher prices when companies act to stifle competition, and I am pleased that this settlement will help impacted consumers receive restitution while requiring Google to take steps to prevent future anticompetitive conduct.”
A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general filed a bipartisan national lawsuit against Google alleging that Google unlawfully monopolized the market for Android app distribution and in-app payment processing. Specifically, the lawsuit alleged that Google signed anticompetitive contracts to prevent other app stores from being preloaded on Android devices, bought off key app developers who might have launched rival app stores, and created technological barriers to deter consumers from directly downloading apps to their devices.
Consumers who are eligible for restitution do not have to submit a claim; they will receive automatic payments through PayPal or Venmo, or they can elect to receive a check or automatic clearing house (ACH) transfer. More details about that process will be forthcoming.
Joining Raoul in the settlement are attorneys general of each state, along with the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.