TLDR
- Google settled a privacy lawsuit for $68 million over claims its Assistant recorded conversations without proper activation
- The lawsuit alleged Google Assistant triggered on “false accepts” when it misheard words as commands like “Hey Google”
- Settlement covers users who bought Google devices or experienced false accepts since May 2016
- Google denied wrongdoing but settled to avoid litigation costs and uncertainty
- Apple previously settled a similar case for $95 million in December 2024
Google agreed to pay $68 million to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming its voice assistant violated user privacy. The settlement was filed late Friday in San Jose federal court and awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman.
The lawsuit centered on Google Assistant’s recording practices. Users accused the company of illegally capturing and sharing private conversations after the assistant activated without proper trigger words. They claimed Google used these recordings to deliver targeted ads.
Google Assistant responds to specific phrases like “Hey Google” or “Okay Google.” These work similarly to how Apple’s Siri functions. The problem arose when the technology misheard regular conversation as these command phrases.
These mistakes are called “false accepts” in the tech industry. When they occurred, Google Assistant would start recording even though users never intended to activate it. The lawsuit claimed these recordings were then used for advertising purposes.
Google denied any wrongdoing throughout the legal proceedings. The company settled to avoid the expense and unpredictability of a trial. Google’s headquarters are in Mountain View, California. The company declined to provide a statement when contacted on Monday.
Settlement Coverage Details
The settlement covers a broad group of people. Anyone who purchased Google devices since May 18, 2016 may be eligible. People who experienced false accepts during that period also qualify for compensation.
The $68 million fund will be distributed among eligible class members. Court documents show the exact payment structure will be determined later. Individual payouts will depend on how many people file claims.
The legal team representing plaintiffs will request attorney fees. They may ask for up to one-third of the total settlement. That would amount to roughly $22.7 million. The court will decide whether to approve this fee request.
Following Apple’s Lead
Apple faced similar accusations about its Siri assistant. The iPhone maker settled that case just two months earlier. Apple agreed to pay $95 million to resolve privacy complaints from its users.
Both settlements highlight concerns about voice-activated technology. The devices are designed to listen constantly for wake words. This creates potential privacy issues when the technology makes mistakes.
Google Assistant launched in 2016 and is installed on millions of devices. The service works on smartphones, smart speakers, and other connected products. The settlement period covers the assistant’s entire existence.
The settlement still requires final court approval. Judge Freeman will review the terms to ensure they are fair to class members. A hearing date has not been announced yet.
Class members will receive notice about their eligibility once the court gives preliminary approval. They will have time to submit claims or object to the settlement terms.
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