How to Get Your Slice of a $23 Million Google Legal Settlement

If you searched Google between Oct. 25, 2006 and Sept. 30, 2013, you may be eligible for a small share

Edward C. Baig,

AARP

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En español

Published June 16, 2023

a man walking by in the dark as a google sign glows behind him

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You’re not going to walk away rich, but you may be eligible to receive funds from Google as part of a $23 million settlement of consolidated class-action privacy lawsuits dating back a decade.

If you were among the people who clicked on a link while using Google Search from Oct. 25, 2006 to Sept. 30, 2013, you may be owed a piece of the settlement.

Each eligible claimant would receive approximately $7.70, according to a website established by the settlement administrators, though the sum could change depending on how many people file a claim.

The lawsuit accused Google of “storing and intentionally, systematically and repeatedly divulging its users’ search queries and histories to third parties,” a practice that “adversely impacts billions of searches conducted by millions of consumers.” Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

Under the terms, Google will revise its “FAQs” (frequently asked questions) and “Key Terms” web pages to spell out “how and when search queries may be disclosed to third parties.”

How do I submit a claim?

Visit RefererHeaderSettlement.com for claim forms and other documents.

At the site, the first step is to receive a class member ID by supplying your name, address, phone number and email address. That ID will be emailed to you.

Upon receiving it, enter the number into the online claim form field where requested, and check off the “I’m not a robot” Captcha box. Next, fill in your name, address and other information marked by an asterisk, and check off the box attesting that you submitted a search query and clicked on a link during the class period. You can choose how you would like to be paid: via prepaid Mastercard, PayPal, Venmo, direct deposit or Zelle. You will have to electronically sign the document.

When is the deadline?

An online claim must be filed no later than July 31, 2023. You can also mail in the form by that date to:

In re Google Referrer Header Privacy Settlement

ATTN: Claim Form

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration

P.O. Box 225391

New York, NY 10150-5391

Do I have other rights?

You have three other options:

1. Exclude yourself by July 31 to get no payment under the settlement, but you could be part of any other lawsuit against Google about the claims and allegations in the case.

2. Object by July 31 and fill out a form, and write to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California as well as attorneys listed on the settlement website, indicating why you think the settlement should not be approved. You can indicate your notice of intent to appear at the final approval hearing (or have a lawyer appear on your behalf), set for Oct. 12, 2023.

3. Do nothing and give up any rights to compensation.

You can contact the administrators by filling out an online form or writing to the above address.

What is a class action?

It’s a legal procedure that permits one or a small number of plaintiffs to pursue a case on behalf of a larger group or class of people.

The Google settlement pales in size next to the $725 million Facebook parent Meta agreed to pay out last year to settle a 5-year-old class-action privacy lawsuit relating to Facebook user data improperly shared with other companies. People have until Aug. 25 to file a claim in that case, either by mail or online.

AARP estimated that after legal fees — if all 87 million people who in theory could file a claim in the Facebook case did — folks would walk away with just $6.25 each.

Despite the relatively puny amount, class-action attorney Danny Karon of Cleveland, owner of the Your Lovable Lawyer consumer website, told AARP that people should file their claims in the Facebook case. “It’s found money. Never mind how much or how little you’ll get.” The same advice would apply to Google.

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Edward C. Baig covers technology and other consumer topics. He previously worked for USA Today, BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Report and Fortune, and is author of Macs for Dummies and coauthor of iPhone for Dummies and iPad for Dummies. Follow him on LinkedIn; Threads; and X, formerly known as Twitter.