Claim deadline nears for $68 million Google Assistant settlement

(NEXSTAR) – If you purchased a Google device or lived in a home with a Google Assistant-equipped device in recent years, you may qualify for a payment in a multi-million-dollar class action settlement.

Google previously agreed to pay $68 million to settle a lawsuit that accused its Google Assistant of recording personal conversations without prompting, unbeknownst to those being recorded. The Assistant is typically triggered by phrases like “Hey Google” or “OK Google,” or by tapping the device or a button on it.

The suit alleged that this issue had occurred across multiple devices over a decade, but Google denies any wrongdoing.

If you were impacted, you could receive a portion of the $68 million settlement. You do, however, have only a few days to file a claim.

Who qualifies in the $68 million settlement?

There are two groups of qualifying class members who could receive payments.

An easy way to tell if you fall into either is to check your email, including your spam folder. You’re looking for an email with the subject line, “Google Assistant Privacy Litigation Settlement,” according to a review by Nexstar. Within that email, you will find a unique ID and PIN, which you will need to file a claim.

Class members are identified as those who purchased a qualifying Google device and those who used Google Assistant or resided in a home where their “communications were recorded or otherwise obtained by Google Assistant as a result of a False Accept or disclosed to any third-party review vendor.”

Children may also qualify in this settlement; parents or guardians will need to submit a claim for them.

The purchase or recordings need to have happened between May 18, 2016, and March 19, 2026.

The device either needs to have Google Assistant on it or be capable of having Google Assistant downloaded to it.

This includes Google Home, Home Mini, Home Max, Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, and Pixel smartphones.

You will not receive $68 million. Instead, your payment will be based on how many valid claims are filed and how many “points” you receive.

For every qualifying Google device you purchased, you will receive four points, with a max of three devices (or 12 points). If you fall into the second group, the “Privacy Settlement Class,” you will receive one point.

If there are funds left over after the initial payments are sent out, a second round of payments could be made available.

How do you file a claim, and when is the deadline?

You can use the ID and PIN included in the aforementioned email you may have received to begin a claim form online . If you did not receive an email but believe you qualify, you can also submit a claim form online .

In either case, you will have to provide your contact information and declare whether you purchased a device or lived in a household with a device equipped with Google Assistant. You will need to provide proof of purchase if you’re a member of the purchasing class.

The form will also ask for information about the Google device, like its device code. More details can be found on the settlement website .

Claims can be submitted online or via mail by Thursday, August 27, 2026.

The court must also give the settlement final approval. Any subsequent appeals could delay the payout process.

A court hearing is scheduled for October 1, 2026.

Nexstar’s Jeremy Tanner contributed to this report.