Google to Pay $68M for Voice Assistant Eavesdropping
▼ Summary
– Google will pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its voice assistant illegally recorded users and shared conversations with advertisers.
– The lawsuit claimed devices recorded private conversations without the “Hey Google” activation phrase, capturing discussions on finances and personal matters.
– The settlement, pending a judge’s approval, establishes a fund to pay consumer claims, attorney fees, and other costs.
– Eligible consumers can submit claims for up to three devices, with individual payment amounts depending on the total number of claims.
– This case mirrors a similar $95 million settlement against Apple’s Siri, where users received payments this month.
In a significant legal resolution, Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement to address a class-action lawsuit concerning its voice assistant technology. The lawsuit alleged that the company’s devices recorded private conversations without proper user consent and subsequently shared sensitive data with third-party advertisers. This preliminary agreement, filed in a federal court in California, awaits final judicial approval before taking effect.
The legal action originated from complaints by several owners of Google devices. They contended that their voice-activated products captured audio without the required activation phrase, such as “Hey Google.” According to the plaintiffs, these recordings included highly personal discussions covering topics like financial matters, employment details, and other private decisions, all allegedly collected without their knowledge or permission.
Should the court approve the settlement, Google will establish a fund totaling $68 million. This pool of money will be used to compensate eligible consumers who file claims, in addition to covering legal fees and associated administrative costs approved by the court. The exact amount each individual receives will not be fixed; it will depend on the total number of valid claims submitted against the fund. Consumers are permitted to submit claims for a maximum of three separate Google devices.
This case mirrors other recent privacy settlements within the tech industry. Notably, Apple recently resolved a similar class-action lawsuit regarding its Siri voice assistant, which was also accused of eavesdropping on confidential conversations. Payments from Apple’s $95 million settlement are currently being distributed, with individual payouts reported to range between approximately eight and forty dollars.
The outcome highlights ongoing scrutiny over data privacy practices and how voice-activated technologies handle user audio. While Google has not publicly commented on the specifics of this settlement, the agreement represents a substantial financial commitment to resolving these widespread consumer allegations.
(Source: CBS News)
