Google agrees to $68 million settlement in voice assistant privateness lawsuit

Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement concerning claims that its voice assistant inappropriately spied on smartphone customers. Plaintiffs claimed that the corporate’s Google Assistant platform started listening to them after it misheard conversations that appeared like its wake phrases. The go well with argued that non-public data that Google Assistant should not have heard was then used to ship these people focused adverts.

Reuters reported that Google denied wrongdoing within the go well with, however in accordance with court docket papers, the corporate agreed to a settlement with a view to keep away from the danger and prices of litigating the problem. The preliminary class motion settlement was filed on Friday and now awaits approval from U.S. District Decide Beth Labson Freeman.

Google has been transitioning away from the Google Assistant platform up to now yr, replacing it with its Gemini software. Not that AI chatbots needs to be trusted as paragons of privateness both.

Apple confronted a really related allegations round its Siri voice assistant in 2019; that class-action go well with led to a $95 million settlement in January 2025. Unsure if a reward of $20 per device feels ample when these corporations are by accident overhearing deeply private conversations and particulars, however that is how the justice system shakes out some instances.