Google pays $68M to settle claims its voice assistant spied on users

9 months ago by monica_b1998 to c/degoogle

Google did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement of the class-action case, which accused the firm of "unlawful and intentional interception and recording of individuals’ confidential communications without their consent and subsequent unauthorized disclosure of those communications to third parties."

474D 42 points 9 months ago

So basically, a minimal cost of business? This won't deter them from the next violation. Probably paid with a smile on their faces

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LifeInMultipleChoice 33 points 9 months ago

Didn't see it in the article, but who gets this money? Do they send the 4 billion people using Android $0.017 for illegally spying on them?

The idea that sending the money to the people would cost outrageously more than the payout shows how ludicrously small the payout is.

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ScoffingLizard 4 points 9 months ago

In want my share. In fact, we can dispute the settlement. Where the fuck is my money? We should ask.

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Niquarl 4 points 9 months ago

It's a class action lawsuit so i think the people that sued ?

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gaymer 29 points 9 months ago

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digital_digger 20 points 9 months ago

That's not even 0.05% of what Alphabet earn in 2025. So it's peanuts, they continue to harm and do whatever they want.

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onlooker 8 points 9 months ago

These fines are so toothless, it's pathetic.

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Kallestar 6 points 9 months ago

Maybe I can get Google's lawyers to help settle a lawsuit my neighbors brought against me for installing spycams in all their bathrooms for a similar portion of my exorbitant wealth. Every neighbor will get an IOU for $0.000069.

Soooorry. We're sooooo sorry. Pwease forgive us... actually we don't care if you forgive us. This settlement prohibits any further indemnification. No wrongdoing, and you're libeling us if you say otherwise. See ya'll in court next week.

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Wilco 5 points 9 months ago

Yea, the courts just dont fine businesses correctly. They made billions off spying and just pay a small percentage. Just like wage theft.

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CallMeAnAI 4 points 9 months ago

The case centered on “false accepts,” wherein Google Assistant is alleged to have activated and recorded the user’s communications even if they had not intentionally prompted it to do so with a wake word. TechCrunch reached out to Google for comment.

Absolute nothing burger that was cheaper to send away and pay.

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phoenixz 3 points 9 months ago

So a % of a % of a % of their profits

That will most surely teach these criminals.

CAN. WE. PLEASE. START. JAILING. CRIMINALS. THAT. BREAK. THE. LAW.

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SaveTheTuaHawk 3 points 9 months ago

My lab had a very specific discussion about very specific reagent on Zoom and the next day I got ads for it.

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