Google Assistant Privacy Settlement: $68M for Smart Speaker & Pixel Users Recorded by "False Accepts"
Google Assistant Privacy Class Action Settlement
Google agreed to a $68 million settlement over allegations that Google Assistant recorded private conversations through unintended activations (False Accepts) and disclosed audio to third-party review vendors. People in the United States who, between May 18, 2016 and March 19, 2026, either purchased a Google-Made Device or had their communications recorded or disclosed through a Google Assistant False Accept can file a claim for a pro rata share of the fund.
Settlement fund
$68M
Common fund
Top payout
Points-based
Pro rata share of $68M fund
Claim deadline
Aug 27, 2026
106 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Aug 27, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You reside in the United States or its territories.
- Between May 18, 2016 and March 19, 2026, you (a) purchased a Google-Made Device (Google Home, Home Mini, Home Max, Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, or a Pixel smartphone), or (b) your communications were recorded or otherwise obtained by Google Assistant as a result of a False Accept, or were disclosed to a third-party review vendor.
- Members of a User's Household whose communications were recorded by Google Assistant during the class period are also included in the Privacy Settlement Class.
- Minors (under 18 as of August 27, 2026) may participate, but a parent or legal guardian must sign and submit the Claim Form.
- Excluded: Google, its subsidiaries, successors, predecessors, and any entity in which Google or its parent has a controlling interest, and their current or former employees, officers, and directors; any judge or magistrate presiding over this lawsuit, or any members of their families or staff; anyone who timely opted out of the previously certified Purchaser Class in 2024 and does not rejoin; anyone who files a written arbitration demand against Google by August 27, 2026; and Plaintiffs' and Defendants' Counsel.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the Settlement Administrator at 1-877-411-4704, or visit GoogleAssistantPrivacyLitigation.com.
What happened
Plaintiffs alleged that Google Assistant can activate and record user communications even when nobody intentionally triggers it with a Hot Word such as "OK Google" or "Hey Google." These unintended activations are called False Accepts. The lawsuit claims Google wrongfully collected, used, and disclosed audio recordings from False Accepts, including by sharing recordings with third-party review vendors used to improve Google Assistant's speech recognition. Plaintiffs allege this conduct violated users' privacy rights and Google's own Privacy Policy.
Google denies all of the allegations and denies any wrongdoing or liability. The Court has not made any determination that Google violated any law. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the cost, risk, and time of continued litigation, and Google will pay $68 million into a non-reversionary Settlement Fund to resolve the claims of two Settlement Classes: a Purchaser Class of people who bought Google-Made Devices, and a Privacy Class of Google Assistant Users (and their household members) whose communications were captured through False Accepts or disclosed to third-party review vendors.
How to file a claim
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1
Confirm you are eligible
You must reside in the United States or its territories and, between May 18, 2016 and March 19, 2026, either (a) have purchased a Google-Made Device (Google Home, Home Mini, Home Max, Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, or a Pixel smartphone), or (b) had your communications recorded or obtained by Google Assistant through a False Accept or disclosed to a third-party review vendor. Members of a User's Household whose communications were recorded are also covered.
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2
Understand how payments are calculated
Payments are points-based and paid pro rata from the Net Settlement Fund. Purchaser Class members are assigned 4 points for every eligible Google-Made Device included in their Claim, capped at 3 devices (a 12-point maximum). Privacy Class members are assigned 1 point. The Claims Administrator divides the Net Settlement Fund proportionally based on the total number of points across all valid Claim Forms. Final payment amounts are not known until claim volume is determined.
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3
File online or by mail
Submit the Claim Form online at GoogleAssistantPrivacyLitigation.com by August 27, 2026, or mail a paper Claim Form (postmarked by August 27, 2026) to: Google Assistant Privacy Settlement, c/o A.B. Data, Ltd., P.O. Box 170500, Milwaukee, WI 53217. If you received an email notice with a Unique ID and PIN, use them when filing. If you did not receive a notice, you may still file as long as you qualify.
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4
Receive your payment
Payments are issued after the Court grants final approval at the October 1, 2026 Final Approval Hearing and any appeals are resolved. The appeal process can take a year or more. No follow-up is required once your claim is submitted; the Claims Administrator will use the payment information from your Claim Form.
Key dates
- Aug 27, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Upcoming
- Aug 27, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Oct 1, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (9:00 a.m. PT, in person) Upcoming
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for October 1, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. PT before the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Courthouse, Courtroom 1 on the 5th Floor, 280 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113. The Court may move the hearing or hold it via video, so check GoogleAssistantPrivacyLitigation.com for updates before traveling.
Where the money is going
This is a non-reversionary common fund. Attorneys' fees, expenses, service awards, and notice and administration costs come out of the $68 million before payments are calculated for Settlement Class Members. No remaining funds will be returned to Google.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval at the Final Approval Hearing on October 1, 2026. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. Per-claimant payments depend on total claim volume and the points-based allocation, and final per-person amounts are not yet known.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
Payments are calculated on a points-based pro rata basis from the Net Settlement Fund. Purchaser Class members get 4 points for every eligible Google-Made Device on their Claim, capped at 3 devices (12 points maximum). Privacy Class members get 1 point. The Claims Administrator divides the Net Settlement Fund proportionally based on total points across all valid claims, so per-person amounts depend on how many people file and which class they qualify for. The Notice states that exact payment amounts are not known at this time.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
The Long Form Notice does not state that documentation is required for a basic Claim Form. If you received an email notice, you should enter the Unique ID and PIN from that email. If you did not receive a notice, you can still submit a Claim Form by attesting to your eligibility under penalty of perjury. The bulk submission of Claim Forms by aggregators or assignees is not permitted. Review the Claim Form at GoogleAssistantPrivacyLitigation.com for any additional verification fields.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
Yes, you can still file a claim even if you did not receive an email notice. Notice in this case was distributed by email to users associated with Google Assistant Enabled Devices and supplemented by online publication. If you purchased a Google-Made Device in the United States during the class period, or your communications were captured by Google Assistant via a False Accept, you are likely a Class Member. For help, visit GoogleAssistantPrivacyLitigation.com or call the Settlement Administrator toll-free at 1-877-411-4704.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
Yes. Unless you opt out by submitting an Exclusion Request that is postmarked or submitted through the Settlement Website portal by August 27, 2026, you will be bound by the Settlement and you will release the legal claims at issue in this lawsuit against Google and the other Released Parties. That means you cannot sue Google separately about Google Assistant False Accepts or related privacy claims. The full release language is in the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement, available at GoogleAssistantPrivacyLitigation.com.
When will payments be sent out?
The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for October 1, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. PT before Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose. Payments will only be issued after the Court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved. The appeal process can take a year or more. No action is required after a valid Claim Form is submitted, just check GoogleAssistantPrivacyLitigation.com for updates.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
Similar open settlements
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Google LLC and Alphabet Inc., A.B. Data, Ltd. (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Erin Green Comite of Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP and Christian Levis of Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. The case is In re Google Assistant Privacy Litigation, Case No. 4:19-cv-04286, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California before the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman. Class representatives are Asif Kumandan, Melissa Spurr, Lourdes Galvan, and Eleeanna Galvan. Google denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
