Google Settles $68 Million Lawsuit Claiming It Recorded Private Conversations (bbc.com)
(Monday January 26, 2026 @05:25PM (BeauHD)
from the always-listening dept.)
- Reference: 0180661496
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/01/26/2222213/google-settles-68-million-lawsuit-claiming-it-recorded-private-conversations
- Source link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g38jv8zzwo
An anonymous reader quotes a report from the BBC:
> Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a lawsuit [1]claiming it secretly listened to people's private conversations through their phones . [...] the lawsuit claimed Google Assistant would sometimes turn on by mistake -- the phone thinking someone had said its activation phrase when they had not -- and recorded conversations intended to be private. They alleged the recordings were then sent to advertisers for the purpose of creating targeted advertising. The proposed settlement was filed on Friday in a California federal court, and requires approval by US District Judge Beth Labson Freeman.
>
> The claim has been brought as a [2]class action lawsuit rather than an individual case -- meaning if it is approved, the money will be paid out across many different claimants. Those eligible for a payout will have owned Google devices dating back to May 2016. But lawyers for the plaintiffs may ask for up to one-third of the settlement -- amounting to about $22 million in legal fees. The tech firm also denied any wrongdoing, as well as claims that it "recorded, disclosed to third parties, or failed to delete, conversations recorded as the result of a Siri activation" without consent.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g38jv8zzwo
[2] https://www.googleassistantprivacylitigation.com/Home/Contact
> Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a lawsuit [1]claiming it secretly listened to people's private conversations through their phones . [...] the lawsuit claimed Google Assistant would sometimes turn on by mistake -- the phone thinking someone had said its activation phrase when they had not -- and recorded conversations intended to be private. They alleged the recordings were then sent to advertisers for the purpose of creating targeted advertising. The proposed settlement was filed on Friday in a California federal court, and requires approval by US District Judge Beth Labson Freeman.
>
> The claim has been brought as a [2]class action lawsuit rather than an individual case -- meaning if it is approved, the money will be paid out across many different claimants. Those eligible for a payout will have owned Google devices dating back to May 2016. But lawyers for the plaintiffs may ask for up to one-third of the settlement -- amounting to about $22 million in legal fees. The tech firm also denied any wrongdoing, as well as claims that it "recorded, disclosed to third parties, or failed to delete, conversations recorded as the result of a Siri activation" without consent.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g38jv8zzwo
[2] https://www.googleassistantprivacylitigation.com/Home/Contact
Great news for lawyers (Score:2)
by DrXym ( 126579 )
Not so great for the supposed victims who presumably number in the millions and will therefore be lucky if they receive even a dollar in compensation.
If I was caught (Score:2)
by Valgrus Thunderaxe ( 8769977 )
planting a bug in someones house - I wouldn't get a fine. I'd be in prison.
They do , you don't (Score:2)
Always the same , lawyers get paid the lion share and the crumbs are left to the plaintiffs. Never participate in a class action lawsuit. Do it yourself.