Google Set To Pay $68M Settlement Over Private Conversation Lawsuit
Google will pay $68 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it recorded users' private conversations without their consent.Summary
Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement in a lawsuit claiming its Google Assistant recorded and shared users’ private conversations without consent, raising concerns about privacy and data security. The lawsuit alleges that the Assistant was accidentally triggered on Android devices, recording conversations and potentially using them to target ads. Google denies wrongdoing but stated it settled to avoid litigation costs.
The proposed settlement, filed in California Federal Court, requires approval from Judge Beth Labson Freeman and would be distributed among individuals who owned Google devices since May 2016. Plaintiffs’ lawyers may request up to one-third of the settlement amount as legal fees.
This settlement follows a similar case in January where Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle allegations that Siri listened to users without their consent, also denying any wrongdoing. Both cases highlight growing scrutiny of voice assistants and the privacy implications of smart devices.
(Source：Mandatory)