Google is Paying $68 Million for Eavesdropping on Users

Settlement follows claims that Google Assistant recorded users without consent and shared data for targeted advertising

Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of illegally recording users through its Google Assistant voice service, according to court documents.

The lawsuit alleged that Google Assistant listened to users without their consent and used the information to deliver targeted advertising. Plaintiffs said the virtual assistant recorded conversations even when it was not deliberately activated.

Google Assistant is designed to respond only when users say so-called hot words such as “Hey Google” or “Okay Google.” The lawsuit claimed the system sometimes activated when it mistakenly interpreted background speech as a command, a phenomenon referred to as “false accepts.”

Google settled the case while denying wrongdoing, opting to avoid the risks and costs associated with prolonged litigation.

The settlement applies to users who purchased Google devices or experienced false activations since May 18, 2016, according to court filings. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs may seek up to one third of the settlement amount, or about $22.7 million, in legal fees.

The case mirrors a similar lawsuit against Apple, which agreed in December 2024 to pay $95 million to resolve claims that its Siri voice assistant recorded private conversations without user consent. Apple also denied wrongdoing. Under that settlement, users could claim up to $20 per device.

In November, Google said it would phase out Google Assistant in favor of Gemini AI.

“Later this year, the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores,” the company said.

“Additionally, we’ll be upgrading tablets, cars and devices that connect to your phone, such as headphones and watches, to Gemini.”

Google Assistant, which launched in 2016, will remain available until March 2026.

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