Google agrees to pay $68,000,000 after lawsuit alleges it secretly listened to users’ conversations
Published on Jan 30, 2026 at 4:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jan 30, 2026 at 4:06 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Google has agreed to pay out a huge $68 million in damages, following a lawsuit that alleged it was secretly eavesdropping on customer conversations.
Various apps and devices from the likes of Google, Amazon, and Apple come with voice-activated software and assistance, namely devices like the Google Nest.
Most of us likely just use these to play music, perhaps ask what the weather is like, but when none of that is happening, the speakers should not be listening to your conversations.
However, a class-action lawsuit in January 2026 alleged that the devices were, in fact, listening to users.
DISCOVER OUR SUPERCAR AUCTION SITE – View live auctions on SBX Cars
What we know about the Google settlement
The lawsuit was filed on January 23rd.
It was brought against Google and parent company Alphabet, and alleged that voice-activated assistant software spied on smartphone users.
Of course, this would be a violation of privacy if it were the case.
However, just three days after it was filed, the tech giant settled the lawsuit with a huge payout of $68 million.
Yet it did so without admitting to any wrongdoing.
The claimants had alleged that the speakers were recording their conversations.
They also said it was giving keywords to advertisers, despite not activating the speaker with ‘Hey Google.’
Suspicions were raised after they found targeted ads related to conversations they had been having.
It comes as no surprise, then, that people were feeling uneasy.
Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology
Other companies have had to settle similar claims
Reuters said that the settlement covered those who had bought Google devices from May 2016.
But Google isn’t the first company to have had to settle such a claim.
In 2021, Fumiko Lopez filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that Siri had been eavesdropping on them.
The makers of the iPhone settled for $85 million, and claimants were paid compensation in May 2025.
Some speakers do have the ability to turn the mic off from underneath if you are worried about it listening.
However, you shouldn’t have to be worried about a seemingly harmless device listening to your chats.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
