Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that its voice-activated assistant, Google Assistant, improperly recorded private conversations. The settlement, filed in a federal court in San Jose, California, requires the approval of US District Judge Beth Labson Freeman.

Allegations of Unauthorized Recordings

The lawsuit claims that Google Assistant, designed to activate upon hearing phrases like "Hey Google," was inadvertently triggered, leading to unauthorized recordings. These recordings were allegedly shared with advertisers to facilitate targeted advertising, raising significant privacy concerns among users. Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has denied any wrongdoing but opted for a settlement to avoid the uncertainties and costs associated with prolonged litigation.

Settlement Details and Eligibility

The settlement covers individuals who have owned Google devices since May 18, 2016, and were affected by these "false accepts." If approved, the settlement will be distributed among numerous claimants, with lawyers for the plaintiffs potentially receiving up to one-third of the total amount, approximately $22 million, as legal fees.

Comparative Context with Apple

This case mirrors a similar situation faced by Apple, which settled for $95 million over allegations that its Siri assistant recorded conversations without user consent. Both tech giants have faced scrutiny over privacy practices, highlighting the ongoing challenges in balancing technological advancements with user privacy.