Google to Pay $68 Million to Settle ‘Eavesdropping’ Claims

Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a major class-action lawsuit alleging its voice-activated Assistant unlawfully recorded private conversations on Android-powered devices.

‘False accepts’

Filed in federal court in San Jose, California, the proposed settlement — which still requires the judge's approval — would provide compensation to affected users who owned devices with the Google Assistant enabled as far back as May 2016.

At the centre of the litigation are so-called “false accepts” — instances where Google Assistant allegedly activated and began recording ambient speech without the user giving a recognised wake phrase like “Hey Google” or “OK Google.”

The plaintiffs claim these recordings sometimes captured private, sensitive conversations that were then processed in a way that violated expectations of privacy.

The lawsuit also alleged that some of those recordings were used for personalised advertising — an especially sensitive charge given longstanding industry concerns about how voice interfaces intersect with data-driven marketing.

Google has denied any wrongdoing, arguing the settlement reflects a desire to avoid the time, cost, and distraction of prolonged litigation rather than an admission of liability.

Under the terms proposed in the filings, compensation could vary based on the extent of users’ exposure. Reports suggest device owners might receive higher payouts (such as in the tens of dollars), while others who experienced unintended activations without owning a device might see smaller amounts.

Voice assistant privacy

The Google Assistant case follows a pattern of legal scrutiny similar to that faced by other tech giants. In a January 2025 settlement, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to resolve claims that its Siri assistant recorded protected conversations without user consent, also rooted in unintended activations and privacy expectations.

Voice assistants like Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa have become fixtures in mobile phones, smart speakers, connected TVs, and other devices — listening continuously for wake words and processing speech to deliver hands-free services. But that convenience comes with persistent privacy concerns.

Independent studies and past reporting have revealed that mistaken activations sometimes capture snippets of private life, which can be stored and analysed on remote servers.

While most voice assistant activations function as designed, even a low rate of unintended recordings can undermine user trust.

Bitdefender’s 2025 Consumer Cybersecurity Survey shows that while netizens heavily rely on major platforms for communication, entertainment, shopping, and financial services, growing fears around Big Tech's stronghold undermine their trust in digital services.

What’s next

The settlement now moves through the court’s approval process. If granted, class members will be told how and when to submit claims, with payouts reflecting the level of alleged impact and device ownership.

Legal fees alone could consume much of the settlement fund. “Lawyers for plaintiffs may seek up to one-third of the settlement fund, or about $22.7 million, for legal fees,” according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Google continues to develop its AI strategy — including the broader rollout of Gemini AI — as voice interaction increasingly ties into next-generation services.

Earlier this month, Apple and Google jointly announced a multi-year partnership that will see Gemini powering the next generation of Siri. The two tech titans pledged commitment to enforce user privacy.

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