AI Notetaking Tools Under Fire: Lessons from the Otter.ai Class Action Complaint
The rapid adoption of AI notetaking and transcription tools has transformed how organizations (and individuals) capture, analyze, and share meeting and other content. But as these technologies expand, so too do the legal and compliance risks. A recent putative class action lawsuit filed in federal court in California against Otter.ai, a leading provider of AI transcription services, highlights the potential pitfalls for organizations relying on these tools. The Complaint Against Otter.ai Filed in August 2025, Brewer v. Otter.ai alleges that Otter’s “Otter Notetaker” and “OtterPilot” services recorded, accessed, and used the contents of private conversations without obtaining proper consent. According to the complaint , the AI-powered notetaker: Joins Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams meetings as a participant and transmits conversations to Otter in real time for transcription. Records meeting participants’ conversations even if they are not Otter accountholders ....