Google Settles Assistant Spying Lawsuit for $68 Million

A class-action lawsuit against Google has been settled for a proposed $68 million, resolving allegations of “unlawful and intentional recording of individuals’ confidential communications without their consent” when Google Assistant’s trigger word was not used to activate the device. The settlement comes after a 2019 report by German outlet VRT NWS exposed the issue of “False Accepts,” where human workers analyzed audio clips from Google devices, including those from third-party apps and voice assistants. The court filing confirms that the proposed settlement number is $68 million. Under the terms of the agreement, affected individuals will receive a payment or a voucher for a Google Pay balance to be used at participating merchants within six months after the settlement becomes final. The lawsuit was filed against Google in 2020, alleging that the company’s recording practices violated state and federal laws. The proposed settlement must still be approved by the court before it can become final.