AG Griffin secures $4.7 million for state in Google settlement

Attorney General Tim Griffin announced a $4.7 million settlement for Arkansas consumers with Google over its Play Store for Android apps.

“A bipartisan group of 53 attorneys general has settled with Google, requiring the company to pay $700 million and to stop its anticompetitive practices. Of the $700 million, Google will pay $630 million in restitution, including a little more than $4.7 million to Arkansans who were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive conduct. The other $70 million are penalties that will be paid out to the states and territories that sued Google.

“The primary issue in this suit was that Google monopolized the market for Android app distribution and in-app payment processing, using anti-competitive practices to limit consumer access to rival app stores. I am pleased with the outcome of this case and glad that affected Arkansans will receive restitution.”

Consumers eligible for a restitution payment are those who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive practices.

Such consumers will not have to submit a claim to receive their payment. They will receive payment automatically through PayPal or Venmo, or they can elect to receive a check or Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer.