UMVA has learned that a massive $68 million settlement has been reached, and you may be eligible for a cash payout if you own or have owned a device equipped with Google Assistant.
The settlement notices are being sent out, but there's a catch - they're landing in spam folders, which means many eligible users might miss them. A notice with the subject line "Google Assistant Privacy Litigation Settlement" might look like spam, but it's legitimate.
According to information obtained by UMVA, this settlement stems from a lawsuit alleging that Google Assistant was activated and recording users' conversations without a spoken wake word or phrase, or manual activation by the user. This affects a huge pool of users, including those with Google-made devices and third-party smartphones, smart speakers, smart displays, and smart TVs.
The email notices contain a unique ID and PIN for making a claim, but it's still possible to submit a claim without these codes. The settlement website has the details, and eligible users can submit claims online.
There are two separate settlement classes whose members are eligible for payment: those who purchased a Google-Made Device that uses Google Assistant in the U.S. between May 18, 2016, and March 19, 2026, and those who used Google Assistant and had their communications recorded due to a false accept, and disclosed to a third party.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that users who are part of the "Purchaser" class can claim up to three devices and will receive four points for each, while those in the "Privacy" class receive a single point. The funds will be distributed proportionally based on a points system, but no one knows how much each individual will receive yet.
Eligible users must submit their claims by Aug. 27, 2026, and the final approval hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1. Payments will be sent out sometime after that date, so it's essential to stay on top of this if you're eligible.
