Please Check Your Spam Folder for This Google Agreement Notice.
If you have (or had) a device equipped with Google Assistant, you may be eligible for cash compensation as part of a recent $68 million settlement—but you’ll need to check your spam folder to find this notification.
As Android Authority reports , settlement notifications are apparently ending up in spam folders, so many eligible users are likely to miss them. I also received this notification in my spam folder a few days ago with the subject line “Google Assistant Privacy Breach Settlement.” It certainly looks like spam, but it’s legitimate.
What is the agreement with Google about?
This particular settlement with Google (like other similar settlements in recent months and years ) stems from a lawsuit alleging that Google Assistant was activated and recording user conversations without a spoken code word or phrase, such as “OK, Google,” or manual user activation. Google Assistant may have been preinstalled or downloaded on both Google-manufactured devices (such as Google Home and Google Nest Hub) and third-party smartphones, smart speakers, smart displays, and smart TVs, so the number of affected users could be quite large.
Email notifications sent to eligible applicants notify them of the application deadline and contain a unique identifier and PIN for submitting their application. Please note that, according to the program website, it is possible to submit an application without these codes.
Who is eligible for compensation under the Google dispute settlement?
There are two separate classes of program participants eligible to receive payments:
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Buyer : You purchased a Google-manufactured device that uses the Google Assistant in the United States between May 18, 2016 and March 19, 2026.
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Privacy : You used the Google Assistant (or were a member of a user’s household) between May 18, 2016, and March 19, 2026, and your communications were recorded under false consent and shared with a third party.
It’s currently unknown how much each participant will receive, although the funds will be distributed proportionally based on a points system. Users in the “Buyer” category can qualify for up to three devices and will receive four points for each. Users in the “Privacy” category will receive one point.
How to file a Google Assistant compensation claim
Eligible users can submit claims online through the dispute resolution website . Log in using your unique ID and PIN, if you have one, or complete the form to verify your information. Claims must be submitted by August 27, 2026. The final approval hearing is scheduled for October 1, so payments will be made after that date.