Google to Pay $68 Million in Settlement Over Voice Assistant Privacy Concerns

Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle claims that its voice assistant illegally recorded users’ private conversations, Reuters reports. The settlement comes as part of a class-action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of intercepting communications without consent and sharing that information with third parties, including for targeted advertising.

The company did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement. The lawsuit alleged “unlawful and intentional interception and recording of individuals’ confidential communications” and claimed the recordings were later transmitted to advertisers and other third parties. This case shines a light on how tech companies handle sensitive user data.

Central to the lawsuit were incidents known as “false accepts,” where Google Assistant allegedly activated and recorded conversations even when users had not spoken the wake word. These accidental activations fueled concerns that the device was listening in without permission. Google has not provided a public comment on the settlement.

Concerns about digital surveillance are not new. In 2021, Apple settled a similar lawsuit for $95 million over claims that its Siri assistant recorded conversations without user prompts. These cases highlight a growing awareness among Americans about how personal data is collected and potentially misused by devices designed for convenience.

Google’s privacy challenges extend beyond voice assistants. Last year, the company paid $1.4 billion to the state of Texas to resolve lawsuits alleging violations of state data privacy laws. The latest settlement underscores the ongoing scrutiny faced by tech giants as they navigate the balance between innovation and user privacy.

source: techcrunch