**Google Drops $68 Million to Settle Spying Claims – But Did They Admit Wrongdoing?**
Just when you thought Google was above all this, the tech giant has agreed to fork out a whopping $68 million to settle claims that their voice assistant was, in fact, spying on users. But, in a move that’s left many scratching their heads, Google didn’t exactly own up to any wrongdoing.
So, what’s the deal? It seems that Google’s Assistant was habitually activating and recording conversations without so much as a by-your-leave from users. And, allegedly, this data was being used to target ads and whatnot – which is, to put it mildly, a major breach of privacy. Yeah, no kidding.
This isn’t the first time a tech company has faced allegations of spying on their users. Remember how Apple settled a similar lawsuit just a couple of years ago, coughing up $95 million to users who claimed their Siri voice assistant had recorded conversations without permission? Yeah, familiar territory. And, just last year, Google shelled out a sweet $1.4 billion to the state of Texas to settle two lawsuits claiming they’d violated data privacy laws.
The real takeaway here is that our privacy is, like, super important in the digital age. As tech continues to advance at breakneck speed, it’s crucial we keep corporate giants on their toes, ensuring our personal data is used responsibly. So, keep an eye out for more updates on the intersection of tech and privacy – we’ve got you covered!
—
**TechCrunch Event: Join the Discussion!**
Want to be part of the discussion? We’re hosting an event in San Francisco on October 13-15, 2026, where we’ll be diving into the latest trends and innovations in the tech industry. Data privacy will be front and center – don’t miss out on the chance to connect with fellow tech enthusiasts and thought leaders!
**Source:** [https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/26/google-pays-68-million-to-settle-claims-its-voice-assistant-spied-on-users/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/26/google-pays-68-million-to-settle-claims-its-voice-assistant-spied-on-users/)
Stay tuned, folks!
