Google recently reached a settlement in a privacy lawsuit regarding its Google Assistant. The tech giant agreed to pay $68 million to resolve claims that the virtual assistant had been spying on smartphone users, leading to a violation of their privacy rights.
The preliminary class action settlement was filed in San Jose, California and is awaiting approval from US District Judge Beth Labson Freeman. The lawsuit alleged that Google Assistant was illegally recording and sharing private conversations after being triggered by users, with the recordings being used for advertising purposes.
One of the key issues at the center of the lawsuit was false positive triggers of Google Assistant. Users reported receiving targeted ads after the virtual assistant mistakenly interpreted their conversations as commands to activate. While Google denied any wrongdoing, it chose to settle the case to mitigate potential risks.
The settlement applies to individuals who purchased Google devices or experienced false activations since May 18, 2016. Plaintiffs’ lawyers may seek up to one-third of the settlement fund, amounting to $22.7 million for legal fees.
Interestingly, Apple faced a similar situation in 2024 and also opted to settle a case involving privacy violations related to its virtual assistant. The company paid out $95 million to resolve the claims.
With the settlement now in place, pending approval from the US District Judge, this legal matter will soon be resolved. This case is just one of many legal proceedings that have emerged in recent times within the tech industry.
In conclusion, Google’s $68 million settlement to address privacy concerns surrounding Google Assistant highlights the ongoing importance of safeguarding user data and ensuring transparency in the use of virtual assistant technology. The resolution of this case underscores the need for companies to prioritize privacy protection and accountability in the development and deployment of AI-powered services.