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Google users may qualify for a payout in $68 million settlement

Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement over claims that Google Assistant recorded conversations without intentional activation. ©Image Credit: Wiki Commons

Google and its parent company, Alphabet, have agreed to a $68 million class action settlement over claims that Google Assistant sometimes recorded private conversations even when users never intentionally activated it. The company denies any wrongdoing, but the settlement could mean cash payments for eligible users who owned certain Google devices or believe their conversations were captured through accidental activations.

The lawsuit centers on what's known as a "False Accept." That's when Google Assistant mistakenly thinks it heard a wake phrase like "Hey, Google" or "OK, Google" and starts recording, even though nobody intended to activate it.

According to the lawsuit, those recordings were sometimes collected, used to improve Google's speech recognition technology, or shared with third-party reviewers.

$68 million is in play for qualified claimants

The settlement covers customers in the United States and its territories who had their recordings disclosed to a third-party review vendor or had private communications recorded because of an alleged false activation between May 18, 2016, and March 19, 2026. People who purchased a Google-made device, such as a Pixel phone or Nest speaker, also qualify to file a claim.

The final payment depends on how many valid claims are filed, but current estimates suggest that device owners will receive about $18 to $56 per eligible device. Privacy-only claims will get about $2 to $10. People who purchased eligible devices can receive up to four points per device, while privacy-only claims receive one point each.

If money remains after the first round of payments, it will be redistributed where possible. Any leftover funds that cannot be distributed will go to a court-approved nonprofit organization.

Important dates to know

There are a few deadlines worth marking down here. You have until August 27, 2026 to make a claim or opt out. The final approval hearing will be on October 1, 2026.

If you have owned a Google-made device over the past decade, it may be worth checking whether you're eligible to claim a share of the settlement. However, keep in mind that the settlement still requires final court approval before payments are issued.

Sources: The U.S. Sun

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