Recently, Google reached a $68 million settlement regarding allegations against its Google Assistant virtual assistant, accused of unlawfully recording users' private conversations without consent. This lawsuit stems from incidents where the assistant mistakenly activated, leading to unintentional recordings triggered by misheard "hotwords." Individuals who have purchased Google devices or experienced these misactivations since May 18th, 2016, may qualify for a portion of the settlement.
Unintentional Activations of Google Assistant
The lawsuit claims that Google Assistant wrongly interpreted sounds as activation commands, resulting in recordings of private discussions. Users subsequently reported receiving targeted advertisements potentially linked to these unintended recordings. A preliminary class action lawsuit has been filed in San Jose, California, and is pending approval from U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman. Although Google denies all allegations, the company opted for a settlement to avoid the risks and expenses associated with a trial.
Google Assistant is at the center of a $68 million settlement available to device users. | Image credit-PhoneArena
Legal Fees and Settlement Distribution
The settlement will be divided among individuals who have purchased Google devices or have fallen victim to these false activations since the specified date. However, it's worth noting that up to one-third of the $68 million—approximately $22.7 million—will go toward legal fees. This leaves a reduced sum for class members to share.
Once Judge Freeman endorses the class action, eligible individuals will be able to file for claims covering up to three Google devices. Compensation will depend on the total number of valid claims submitted. Notifications regarding claim filings will be sent via email to users or through notifications within their Google Home or Google Assistant app.
A Look Back at Other Settlements
In December 2024, a similar lawsuit against Apple concerning its Siri assistant led to a settlement, with claims that Siri recorded conversations without user prompts, meant to assist advertisers. Similar to Google's case, Siri was also alleged to have engaged in unauthorized recordings, which sparked legal action.
To put an example from the tech industry into perspective, Google's previous $700 million class action settlement related to app pricing manipulated resulted in payouts that were significantly low, with reports estimating recipients might only receive around $2 each. This dynamic often highlights the challenges of class action suits, where legal costs substantially reduce the financial benefit for consumers.
Are You Ready to Claim Your Share?
While the total settlement might appear substantial, the actual distribution could be minimal per individual once legal fees and the number of claims are factored in. Past settlements have shown that many claimants receive little more than a nominal amount for their inconvenience.
We will keep you updated as more information unfolds regarding the claim process and eligibility. Stay tuned!
