Google Settles $68M Suit Over Assistant Recordings

Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit accusing its voice assistant of recording private conversations without users' knowledge and using the data for targeted advertising. The preliminary agreement, filed Friday in federal court in San Jose, California, awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman.

The lawsuit, initiated in 2019, alleged that Google Assistant on Android devices and other Google products frequently activated unintentionally. Plaintiffs claimed the assistant misidentified everyday speech or background noise as its wake words, such as "Hey Google" or "OK Google," leading to unauthorized audio recordings. These recordings, according to the suit, captured sensitive discussions on topics like finances, work and personal matters, which were then transmitted to Google's servers. The plaintiffs further argued that the data was analyzed and shared with third-party advertisers, resulting in ads tailored to overheard conversations.

Google has denied the allegations, stating in court filings that it does not record or share private conversations as described. The company emphasized that Google Assistant only activates...