AG Schwalb shared new information and instructions about how District residents can access funds from a multistate, bipartisan $700 million settlement with Google that resolved a lawsuit over the company’s anticompetitive practices. The settlement was secured by Attorney General Schwalb and a coalition of 52 other attorneys general following allegations that Google unfairly and illegally restricted competition for Android app distribution and in-app payment processing, limiting choices for customers and driving up prices.

The court preliminarily approved the settlement on November 20, 2025, triggering the court’s notice and approval process. If the court grants final approval of the settlement at a hearing on April 30, 2026, the majority of the settlement funds will be distributed to residents who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive conduct. Google will also make changes to stop its anticompetitive practices that harmed customers and app developers.

“This settlement puts money back into the pockets of tens of millions of Android users who were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive practices—including thousands of DC residents. Most people should receive payment automatically in 2026 through either Venmo or PayPal. Residents who believe they were impacted but do not have Venmo or PayPal, or who no longer have access to the email address or phone number linked to their Google Play account, should sign up online to be notified about claims process updates.” – AG Schwalb