Google to pay $68 million over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users
Google will pay $68 million to settle a lawsuit alleging its voice assistant illegally recorded and shared users' private conversations.Summary
Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit claiming its voice assistant illegally recorded users' conversations and shared them with advertisers. The lawsuit, filed by Google device owners, alleged that devices recorded conversations even without the activation phrase “Hey Google,” capturing private discussions about finances, personal matters, and employment. Google maintains its assistant only activates after hearing the trigger phrase. If approved by U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman, the $68 million will be distributed to claimants after covering legal fees and costs. Individuals can claim for up to three devices, with payout amounts varying based on the total number of claims. This settlement mirrors a similar case against Apple, where Siri was accused of eavesdropping, resulting in a $95 million payout to Apple device owners.
(Source：CBS News)