Google to pay $68 million over “false activations” of Assistant

Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of secretly recording private conversations through Google Assistant.

The claims centred on so-called “false activations,” where the voice assistant allegedly turned on without the trigger phrases “Ok Google” or “Hey Google,” capturing personal information that could later be used to target advertising, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Google, while agreeing to the settlement, did not admit wrongdoing, emphasising that the move is intended solely to save on prolonged litigation costs and minimise reputational risks.

This case adds to a series of privacy-related legal challenges for Google:

• Texas case: Google paid nearly $1.4 billion over allegations of collecting and analysing personal data—including location, search queries, voice prints, and facial geometry—without user consent.

• Incognito lawsuit: In 2020, a class-action lawsuit claimed Google tracked users even in incognito mode. The company reportedly agreed to a $5 billion settlement, postponing a February 2024 trial.

• San Francisco case: A jury ordered Google to pay over $425 million for unlawfully collecting and using user data, including search history and app activity.

• California case: Google was ordered to pay $314 million for illegal use of Android users’ mobile data.

For users, the settlement represents an acknowledgement of false activation issues and a step toward stricter privacy oversight. For Google, it underscores the need for greater transparency in voice technology and stronger data protection measures.

The settlement awaits approval by a federal judge, after which affected users will be eligible for compensation.

By Jeyhun Aghazada