Google Agrees $68 Million Settlement Over Assistant Recordings
Preliminary settlement filed Jan. 23 would create a $68 million fund for claims that Google Assistant recorded private conversations since May 18, 2016.
Overview
Google agreed to pay $68 million in a preliminary settlement filed Jan. 23 in U.S. District Court in San Jose to resolve claims that Google Assistant recorded private conversations, court papers show.
Plaintiffs said devices dating back to May 18, 2016 experienced false accepts and that recordings were shared with advertisers, while Google denied wrongdoing and said it sought to avoid litigation, court filings show.
The proposed settlement requires approval by U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman, and Google declined immediate comment when contacted, filings and requests show.
Plaintiffs' lawyers may seek up to one-third of the $68 million fund, or about $22.7 million, for attorneys' fees and costs, court papers show.
Consumers will be able to submit claims for up to three Google devices, with individual payouts depending on total claims and final approval by Judge Beth Labson Freeman, the settlement says.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this account neutrally: they attribute allegations to plaintiffs ('claimed', 'alleged'), include Google's denial, explain how Google Assistant works, and outline legal procedures and precedents (Apple settlement). Editorial choices avoid loaded judgment and clearly attribute quoted source content accurately.