Google Admits Listening to 'Some User Conversations' Via Assistant: Report

Google has reportedly told Indian Standing Committee on Information Technology that its employees listen to “some recordings of conversations” between users and its AI virtual assistant Google Assistant. Sources told India Today that the select audio clips are recorded by Google Assistant via a smartphone or smart speaker even when the user had not triggered the AI by the command “Ok Google.” Google Assistant is the artificially intelligent voice assistant that is available on Android smartphones, Android TV-based smart TVs and the Google Home line-up of smart speakers. The report notes that the panel, headed by Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, believes that the recording of Google Assistant conversations “is a breach of privacy.” The final report will make recommendations to the government based on new admissions. Back in 2019, Google defended its policy that allows employees in the company to hear audio recordings of conversations between users and its Google Assistant software.