The phone sat silent on the table, its dark screen reflecting the anxious faces around it; a silent witness to a conversation they thought was private. Turns out, in the digital age, privacy is a luxury, not a right. Google is finding that out the hard way this week, agreeing to pay out over €185 million in two separate privacy settlements.
Google’s $135 Million Lesson in Location Data (€125 million)
Imagine your phone, even when locked and tucked away, is quietly whispering details about your whereabouts. That’s essentially the crux of the first lawsuit, where Google allegedly collected cellular data without explicit permission, even when location services were disabled and apps were closed. The lawsuit claims Google used this data to improve products and target ads, a practice they argued was essentially stealing user data.
According to Reuters, this settlement could be the largest of its kind. Individual payouts are capped at €92 (USD $100). Beyond the money, Google will now need to obtain user consent during device setup before transferring data, provide an option to disable transfers, and clearly disclose these practices in their terms of service. Of course, Google admits no wrongdoing.
How does Google use location data?
Think of your location data as breadcrumbs, revealing a trail of your daily life. Google can use this information to tailor search results, suggest nearby restaurants, and target advertisements based on your habits. The problem arises when this data collection happens without your explicit consent, turning those breadcrumbs into a detailed map of your personal life available for corporate consumption. One could say that Google’s business model is built on this compromise between convenience and privacy.
The Google Assistant: Eavesdropping or Assisting?
Remember that time you had a sensitive conversation near your phone and then suddenly saw ads related to it? The second settlement, totaling €63 million (USD $68 million), revolves around allegations that Google Assistant recorded user conversations without permission, using them for targeted advertising. It’s the kind of claim that fuels the ever-popular (and unsettling) conspiracy theory: “Is my phone listening to me?“
Technically, voice assistants are *always* listening for a “wake word.” When triggered, these assistants record your commands and send them to servers for processing. Google maintains that no recording or transmission occurs when the Assistant is in standby mode. This is where the settlement comes into play.
Is Google Assistant recording conversations without permission?
The lawsuit alleges that Google Assistant was recording conversations even when not activated, possibly due to misinterpreting sounds as the wake word. The implication is that these accidental recordings were also used for targeted advertising, raising serious privacy concerns. A payout from this case is unlikely to be more than enough for a cup of coffee.
What can you do to protect your privacy on Google Assistant?
Consider adjusting your Google Assistant settings. You can review and delete past recordings, limit the apps that have access to the microphone, and adjust the sensitivity of the wake word detection. It is a game of cat and mouse. It’s about staying informed and making conscious choices about how much access you grant to these powerful tools.
According to the BBC, the class action includes Google device users since 2016. Like the location data case, Google doesn’t admit any fault in the settlement. This is the tech giant’s version of sweeping something under the rug. This is the cost of doing business when your product is free. It’s the price of privacy.
Two settlements, over €185 million paid out, and no admission of guilt. Is this the cost of innovation, or a blatant disregard for user privacy?