Google Settles $68 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Unauthorized Voice Assistant Recordings
In a significant legal development, Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement to resolve allegations that its voice assistant unlawfully recorded users without their consent, subsequently utilizing the data for targeted advertising and other purposes. This class-action lawsuit accused the tech giant of unlawful and intentional interception and recording of individuals’ confidential communications without their consent and subsequent unauthorized disclosure of those communications to third parties.
Central to the lawsuit were claims that Google Assistant engaged in false accepts, instances where the assistant activated and recorded conversations without the user intentionally triggering it with a wake word. Such inadvertent activations raised serious privacy concerns, as users’ private discussions were allegedly captured and used without their knowledge.
Despite agreeing to the substantial settlement, Google did not admit to any wrongdoing. The company has faced similar privacy-related litigations in recent years. For instance, in 2025, Google agreed to pay $1.4 billion to the state of Texas to settle two lawsuits alleging violations of the state’s data privacy laws. Additionally, in 2022, Google settled for $391.5 million with 40 states over its location tracking practices, where it was accused of misleading users into thinking they had turned off location tracking while still collecting their location information.
The issue of voice assistants recording users without explicit consent is not unique to Google. In 2021, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle claims that its voice assistant, Siri, had recorded conversations without a prompt from users. These cases highlight a growing concern among consumers about the privacy implications of voice-activated technologies and the need for companies to implement robust safeguards to protect user data.
As voice assistants become increasingly integrated into daily life, the balance between convenience and privacy remains a critical issue. Users are encouraged to stay informed about the privacy settings of their devices and to be vigilant about the permissions they grant to technology companies.
