If you have (or had) a device equipped with Google Assistant, you may be eligible for some cash as part of a recent $68 million settlement—but you’ll need to check your spam folder to find the notice.
As Android Authority reports, settlement notices are seemingly being filtered into spam folders, so many users who are eligible to submit claims are likely to miss them. I, too, received this notice in my spam folder several days ago with the subject line “Google Assistant Privacy Litigation Settlement.” It does look like spam, but the notice is legitimate.
What is the Google settlement for?
This specific Google settlement (as there have been others in recent months and years) stems from a lawsuit alleging that Google Assistant was activated and recording users’ conversations without a spoken wake word or phrase like “Okay Google” (or manual activation by the user). Google Assistant could be pre-installed or downloaded on both Google-made devices (like Google Home and Google Nest Hub) as well as on third-party smartphones, smart speakers, smart displays, and smart TVs, so the affected user pool here could be quite large.
The email notices alert those who qualify to the submission deadline and contain a unique ID and PIN for making a claim. Note that according to the settlement website, it is still possible to submit a claim without these codes.
Who is eligible for a payout from the Google settlement?
There are two separate settlement classes whose members are eligible for payment:
What do you think so far?
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Purchaser: You purchased a “Google-Made Device” that uses Google Assistant in the U.S. between May 18, 2016, and March 19, 2026.
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Privacy: You used Google Assistant (or were a member of a user’s household) between May 18, 2016, and March 19, 2026, and had your communications recorded due to a false accept, and disclosed to a third party.
At this time, no one knows how much each individual will receive from the settlement, though the funds will be distributed proportionally based on a points system. Users who are part of the “Purchaser” class can claim up to three devices and will receive four points for each. Those in the “Privacy” class receive a single point.
How to submit a claim for the Google Assistant settlement
Eligible users can submit claims online via the settlement website. Log in with your unique ID and PIN if you have it, or fill out the form to verify your information. Claims must be completed by Aug. 27, 2026. The final approval hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1, so payments will be sent out sometime after that date.
