January 28, 2026
Alphabet, the parent company of the famous search engine Google, has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the digital voice assistant of illegally recording users’ private conversations and then sharing this data with advertisers.
This step comes after a long legal battle related to violating the privacy of smart device owners who were shocked that their conversations were recorded without their knowledge or prior consent.
The settlement documents, which were submitted to the federal court in San Jose, California, revealed that the devices recorded voice data even in the absence of usual activation phrases such as “Hey Google.”
Prosecutors asserted that the technical systems recorded sensitive details that included discussions about financial matters, personal decisions, and employment-related matters, which contradicts the technical promises stated that recording begins only after a specific audio signal from the user.
The tentative settlement, which was filed on January 23, awaits approval by Judge Beth Labson Freeman to become final, according to CBS.
Under the agreement, the company will allocate $68 million to a compensation fund that covers consumer claims, attorneys’ fees and legal costs. Those affected have the right to submit compensation requests for a maximum of three devices, and the financial amount for each individual will be determined based on the total number of requests submitted later.
