AI Note-Taking Apps Are Violating User Privacy

AI note-taking and transcription apps like Granola, Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, and Read AI are under legal scrutiny for allegedly recording meetings without participants' consent and using the data to train AI models. These apps often operate invisibly, retain recordings indefinitely, and default users into data-sharing agreements, placing the burden of obtaining consent on the user rather than the company. Class-action lawsuits cite violations of federal and state laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, California’s Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), and Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). While companies claim data is anonymized and not shared with third parties, plaintiffs argue the practices constitute illegal wiretapping and privacy breaches. Educational institutions have banned some apps due to security risks. To protect themselves, users are advised to obtain verbal consent before recording, check app settings to opt out of data sharing, and verify whether recording is occurring in meetings they join. However, legal responsibility remains uncertain and varies by jurisdiction, with at least eleven U.S. states requiring all-party consent for call recording.

(Source：Lifehacker)