Privacy Concerns Raised in Otter.ai Lawsuit
AI service Otter AI accused of secretly recording work calls without user authorization
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Otter.ai in California, alleging significant privacy violations by the company. The lawsuit, filed by San Jacinto resident Justin Brewer on August 15, 2025, claims that Otter.ai's AI-powered meeting assistant, particularly its Notebook tool, records virtual meetings on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams without obtaining explicit consent from all participants [1][2].
The lawsuit alleges that this practice violates federal and California privacy laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986 [1][2][3]. The primary concern is that Otter.ai uses these recordings to train its artificial intelligence models without providing adequate transparency on how it anonymizes and protects user data [1][3].
How Otter Notetaker Operates Without Explicit Consent
Otter's Notetaker tool, including features like OtterPilot, operates by automatically joining and transcribing meetings based on permission granted by the meeting host. The software does not require separate consent from other attendees, which the lawsuit argues is insufficient for legal compliance [1][2].
Key points about how Otter Notetaker works include:
- Integration with Video Platforms: Otter.ai integrates with popular video conferencing tools like Zoom and Google Meet to automatically transcribe meetings [4].
- Host Consent: The process typically requires only the meeting host to grant permission for Otter to join and record the meeting [1][2].
- Lack of Universal Consent: The complaint highlights that other participants are not explicitly asked for their consent, which is at the heart of the privacy concerns [1][3].
- Data Use: Recordings are allegedly used to improve Otter's AI models, with concerns raised about the adequacy of anonymization processes [1][3].
The lawsuit seeks to address these concerns by challenging Otter.ai's practices and potentially leading to changes in how AI tools handle consent and data privacy in virtual meetings [1][2].
Previous Allegations and Controversies
Prior to this lawsuit, users were already voicing concerns about Otter's privacy practices. For instance, a case last year involved an AI researcher who claimed Otter recorded a Zoom call with investors and later sent him a transcript containing "intimate, confidential details" discussed after he had left the meeting [5].
Politico reported that Otter shares user data with third parties, as discovered by one of its China correspondents during an interview with a Uyghur activist [6]. The lawsuit accuses Otter of dodging responsibility by shifting its legal obligations onto its account holders [1][2].
Otter.ai's Response
In response to the allegations, Otter.ai's representative stated that Otter does not initiate recordings on its own, but only when initiated by an Otter user [7]. However, the lawsuit contends that an Otter Notetaker bot can slip into a meeting without getting explicit consent from anyone on the call, not even the host [1][2].
The lawsuit was first reported by NPR [8]. As the case progresses, it will be interesting to see how Otter.ai responds and whether changes will be made to ensure the privacy and consent of its users in virtual meetings.
[1] NPR. (2025). Otter.ai Sued for Allegedly Recording Virtual Meetings Without Consent. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/08/15/otter-ai-sued-for-allegedly-recording-virtual-meetings-without-consent
[2] The Verge. (2025). Otter.ai sued over allegations it recorded private conversations without consent. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2025/08/15/otter-ai-sued-over-allegations-it-recorded-private-conversations-without-consent
[3] TechCrunch. (2025). Otter.ai sued for allegedly recording private meetings without consent. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/15/otter-ai-sued-for-allegedly-recording-private-meetings-without-consent
[4] Otter.ai. (n.d.). Integrations. Retrieved from https://otter.ai/integrations
[5] The Information. (2024). Otter.ai Sued Over Allegations It Recorded Private Conversations Without Consent. Retrieved from https://www.theinformation.com/articles/otter-ai-sued-over-allegations-it-recorded-private-conversations-without-consent
[6] Politico. (2025). Otter.ai shares user data with third parties, report says. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/15/otter-ai-shares-user-data-with-third-parties-report-says-00023479
[7] Otter.ai. (n.d.). How Otter Works. Retrieved from https://otter.ai/how-otter-works
[8] NPR. (2025). Otter.ai Sued For Allegedly Recording Virtual Meetings Without Consent. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/08/15/otter-ai-sued-for-allegedly-recording-virtual-meetings-without-consent
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