Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging its voice-activated Assistant improperly recorded private conversations, raising concerns over smartphone user privacy. The preliminary class-action agreement was filed Friday in federal court in San Jose, California, and awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman.
The lawsuit accused Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., of capturing and sharing private discussions when Google Assistant misidentified “hot words” such as “Hey Google” or “Okay Google,” resulting in users receiving targeted advertisements. Such misactivations, known as “false accepts,” occur when the Assistant mistakenly interprets ordinary speech as a wake word.
Google, which denied any wrongdoing, opted to settle to avoid the expenses, risks, and uncertainties of prolonged litigation, according to court documents. The settlement applies to individuals who purchased Google devices or experienced false accepts from May 18, 2016, onward. The company did not comment when contacted Monday.
Apple Inc. faced similar scrutiny over its Siri voice assistant and reached a $95 million settlement in December 2024 over comparable privacy allegations.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys may request up to one-third of the settlement fund—around $22.7 million—for legal fees, court filings indicate.
Experts note that these cases highlight ongoing concerns about voice-activated assistants and the handling of personal data. While companies design these systems to improve user experience, even minor errors in voice recognition can lead to unintended surveillance and ad targeting, raising legal and ethical questions globally.
Privacy advocates argue that settlements like Google’s underscore the need for clearer user consent and stricter oversight of AI-driven devices that process voice data.
The case reflects the broader debate over digital privacy as smart assistants become increasingly integrated into homes and smartphones worldwide.
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