Google Ordered to Pay $314 Million in California Cellular Data Class Action Verdict

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A jury in San Jose, California, has ruled that Google misused Android smartphone users’ cellular data without their permission, awarding over $314.6 million in damages to an estimated 14 million affected Californians. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday, found that Google collected and transmitted data from idle Android devices for its own benefit, imposing “mandatory and unavoidable burdens” on users.

The class action lawsuit, filed in 2019, argued that Google’s unauthorized data use served corporate purposes like targeted advertising while consuming users’ cellular data at their expense. Google denied wrongdoing, maintaining that users consented to data use via its terms of service and privacy policies, and claimed no harm was caused.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda stated the company plans to appeal, arguing the verdict “misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices.” Plaintiffs’ attorney Glen Summers praised the decision, calling it a strong vindication of the case’s merits and highlighting the seriousness of Google’s misconduct.

Separately, a similar federal lawsuit covering Android users outside California is set for trial in April 2026 in San Jose.

UK’s Bytes Technology Shares Plunge 27% After Profit Warning on Restructuring Delays and Market Pressures

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Shares of Bytes Technology (BYIT.L), a UK-based IT firm, tumbled over 27% on Wednesday following a profit warning. The company announced that its operating profit for the first half of fiscal 2026 would be marginally lower than expected, citing delayed customer decisions and extended internal restructuring readjustments as key factors.

Bytes attributed the weak trading in the early months of the year to macroeconomic challenges, which led many corporate clients to defer purchasing decisions. The firm is transitioning from a generalist sales approach to specialized, customer segment-focused teams—a shift that has taken longer to implement than initially anticipated.

Additional pressure came from changes to Microsoft’s enterprise agreement program, which reduced certain transactional incentives. These changes particularly impacted the first half of the fiscal year due to a high volume of contract renewals in March and April.

On Wednesday, Bytes reported that gross profit for the first half of fiscal 2026 is expected to remain flat, contrasting with its May guidance, which projected double-digit gross profit growth and high single-digit operating profit growth for the year. For comparison, the company posted an operating profit of £35.6 million ($48.8 million) in the first half of fiscal 2025.

The stock dropped to 369 pence at one point—the lowest since April 2023—before recovering slightly to 391.4 pence by 08:00 GMT. Analysts from Jefferies noted that the cautious AGM update, which downgraded growth expectations, may have surprised investors.

Dutch Climate Tech Firm Dexter Energy Raises €23 Million to Boost AI-Driven Renewable Energy Services

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Dexter Energy, a climate technology company based in Amsterdam, announced on Wednesday that it has secured €23 million (approximately $27.1 million) in a recent funding round. The investment will support the expansion of its AI-powered services focused on renewable energy and battery trading.

The funding round, led by financial services firm Alantra, also included participation from notable investors such as France’s Mirova, ETF Partners, Newion, and Klima. These investors share Dexter Energy’s vision of AI as a critical infrastructure component for electricity grids increasingly reliant on renewable energy and storage solutions.

Founded in 2017, Dexter Energy uses artificial intelligence and data-driven models to optimize trading in power markets. Its advanced price forecasting tools integrate over a dozen external data sources, including weather forecasts and market information. According to the company, its AI-backed trading solutions can boost wholesale market revenues by up to 30% for renewable energy producers.

The injection of new capital will enable Dexter Energy to expand its services further within the Netherlands and across broader European markets, supporting the continent’s transition to cleaner energy sources amid volatile renewable markets.