AI-powered note-taking apps are under legal fire for collecting and using user data without proper consent. Granola and Otter.ai, two popular transcription and note-taking services that many students and professionals rely on, now face class action lawsuits alleging privacy violations.
The lawsuits center on how these apps handle sensitive information. Users report that conversations and recordings are being processed, stored, and potentially used to train AI models without explicit permission. Parents and educators who have adopted these tools for students should know that personal information, class discussions, and meeting details could be accessed beyond what users originally agreed to when signing up.
Otter.ai, which offers free and paid plans for transcribing meetings and lectures, has become especially popular in educational settings. Granola provides similar services focused on meeting notes. Both apps operate on a freemium model, raising questions about how "free" services monetize user data when subscription fees don't cover operating costs.
The core issue is consent. Many users clicked "agree" on terms of service without realizing how broadly their data could be used. These apps often state they process audio and text to improve their services, but the lawsuits argue this language is vague and insufficient. Some claims suggest user recordings were used for AI training without informed consent.
For parents whose children use these apps at school or for studying, the implications are real. Students may not understand they're sharing classroom content with third parties. Families should check what apps their schools recommend and review privacy policies carefully, even when tools offer convenience.
If you use Otter.ai or Granola, review your privacy settings immediately. Both companies allow users to request data deletion through account settings. Look for competing apps with clearer privacy commitments, like some open-source or locally-run transcription options. And when signing up for any free service, ask yourself: if you're not paying,