In a significant legal development, tech giant Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of illegally eavesdropping on users through its voice assistant technology. The lawsuit alleged that Google’s voice assistant recorded and shared private conversations with advertisers without users’ consent, leading to a violation of privacy rights.
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According to CBS News, the lawsuit claimed that Google’s voice assistant would sometimes activate and record conversations even when users had not intentionally triggered the device. This resulted in private discussions being captured and shared with advertisers, who then used the information to target users with personalized ads based on their conversations.
The Hill reported that users expressed concerns about the invasion of their privacy and the potential misuse of their personal data. Many felt that Google’s actions were a breach of trust and raised questions about the company’s commitment to protecting user privacy and data security.
As part of the settlement, Google has agreed to pay $68 million to resolve the allegations and implement measures to enhance user privacy protections. The company has also committed to improving transparency around its data collection practices and obtaining explicit consent from users before recording and sharing their conversations.
This legal development underscores the growing scrutiny around tech companies’ data practices and their responsibility to safeguard user privacy. With the increasing reliance on voice assistant technology and smart devices in daily life, concerns about data privacy and security have become more pronounced.
The settlement highlights the importance of holding tech companies accountable for their data handling practices and ensuring that user privacy rights are respected. It also serves as a reminder for users to be vigilant about the information they share online and to understand how their data is being used by technology companies.
Overall, the resolution of this lawsuit signals a step towards greater accountability and transparency in the tech industry, emphasizing the need for companies to prioritize ethical data practices and user privacy protection.
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References:
1. CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-voice-assistant-lawsuit-settlement-68-million/
2. The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/5707309-google-settles-for-68-million-after-lawsuit-claimed-it-secretly-recorded-users
3. BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg5079yr20o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
Hashtags: #NexSouk #AIForGood #EthicalAI #TechPrivacy #DataSecurity
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