SAN JOSE, Calif. (Diya TV) — Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of illegally recording users through its voice assistant and sharing private conversations with advertisers. The preliminary settlement was filed Jan. 23 in federal court in San Jose and now awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman. The lawsuit raised fresh concerns about digital privacy, smart devices, and how major tech companies handle user data. While Google denied any wrongdoing, it chose to settle to avoid the risks and costs of prolonged litigation.
The case was brought by several Google device owners who claimed Google Assistant recorded their conversations without consent. Google has long said its voice assistant only activates when users say a trigger phrase such as “Hey Google.” The plaintiffs disputed that claim.
They alleged that Google devices sometimes activated by mistake during what the lawsuit called “false accepts.” According to the complaint, those errors led to the recording of private conversations that users never intended to share. Some plaintiffs said the recordings captured sensitive topics. These included financial matters, personal decisions, and workplace discussions. The lawsuit argued that such recordings violated state and federal privacy laws.
The complaint also accused Google of sharing information from these recordings with third parties. Plaintiffs said the data was used for targeted advertising and other commercial purposes.
The lawsuit described the practice as the “unlawful and intentional recording of individuals’ confidential communications without their consent.” It argued that users had no reasonable way to know when the assistant was listening. Google, which is owned by Alphabet, denied all allegations in the case. The company said it designed Google Assistant to respect user privacy and allow users to control their settings.
If the settlement receives court approval, Google will place $68 million into a fund. The money will cover consumer payouts, attorneys’ fees, and other approved costs. The settlement applies to people who purchased Google devices or experienced false activations since May 18, 2016. Eligible devices include Pixel smartphones, Google Home speakers, and smart displays such as the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max.
People whose Google accounts were linked to a device with Google Assistant pre-installed may qualify for compensation. Consumers who bought an eligible device could receive between $18 and $56. The exact amount will depend on how many claims are filed.
People who used or lived with a Google Assistant device that recorded conversations without consent may also qualify. Those users could receive payments ranging from $2 to $10. Consumers may submit claims for up to three Google devices. The settlement notes that individual payouts could change based on the total number of approved claims.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs may seek up to one-third of the settlement fund. That amount equals about $22.7 million. Any legal fees must receive court approval before payment. Judge Freeman will review the agreement and decide whether to grant final approval. If approved, the claims process will begin at a later date. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the settlement.
The agreement mirrors similar lawsuits against other tech companies. Apple recently settled a class-action case involving its Siri voice assistant. That lawsuit also claimed the assistant recorded private conversations without permission.
Apple agreed to pay $95 million in that case. Device owners began receiving payments this month. Individual payouts ranged from about $8 to $40. Privacy experts say these cases highlight growing scrutiny of voice-activated technology. Smart speakers and digital assistants now sit in millions of homes. That reach has raised questions about consent, transparency, and data use.
