Google to Pay $68 Million to Settle Google Assistant Privateness Lawsuit

By Elias Schisgall

Google agreed to pay $68 million to settle class motion claims that its Google Assistant recorded people with out their consent or information.

The unopposed movement for preliminary settlement was filed Friday evening by the plaintiffs in California federal courtroom. It nonetheless requires approval by U.S. District Court Judge Beth Labson Freeman.

Google did not admit wrongdoing within the settlement, which states that the corporate "equally believed in the strength of its defenses" over the course of the six-year litigation. The plaintiffs wrote that the settlement would "avoid significant risk, expense, and delay related to trial and appeal and assure recovery for the Settlement Classes."

The settlement covers customers who purchased or used a Google Assistant since May 18, 2016.

The firm did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Google and its dad or mum firm Alphabet have been first hit with the category motion in July 2019. The criticism alleged that Google Assistant, a voice-activated assistant program, recorded conversations even when people didn't say the new phrases "Okay, Google" or "Hey, Google," or press a button to start recording.

The criticism alleged that Google Assistant made recordings each time a person stated one thing that resembled a sizzling phrase, and would protect the recording for coaching functions even when the corporate decided that no sizzling phrase had been stated. Those recordings violated California legislation, the criticism alleged.

Google denied the allegations and had filed for abstract judgment.

Apple settled an identical lawsuit associated to its Siri assistant for $95 million early final 12 months.

Write to Elias Schisgall at elias.schisgall@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 26, 2026 11:15 ET (16:15 GMT)

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