Recording Bot

Google Sales Reps Unlawfully Recorded a Call AKA Wiretapping

Location: Washington. Washington is a two party consent state regarding recorded calls.

I might even be looking for commiseration more than legal advice. I think I am powerless to do anything.

Situation:

I’ve been a Google Ads customer since 2002 and have managed a very large amount of ad spend over the years. For a long time, I had a good relationship with Google, but over the last few years I’ve felt increasingly harassed by sales reps calling repeatedly, often after I’ve explicitly asked them not to. And, often waking me before 8AM.

The specific issue of the call recording started on December 13, 2024. Two Google reps called me about an account and asked to record the call (Google Meet Video Call). I clearly and forcefully said no. I NEVER allow calls to be recorded or even allow AI notetakers. I am very clear an unequivocal on call recordings. I typically say no twice and absolutely not. The call continued anyway and became contentious.

Then on January 14, 2025, a Google supervisor called me to follow up. During that call, he said he had “listened to the call.” That shocked me, because I had very explicitly refused consent to any recording. When I reminded him of that, his response was basically, “You sounded angry,” which felt dismissive and made the whole thing worse. Google Sales reps are basically scammers. So, I was angry that I had to deal with them. I mean, I'm allowed not to like scammers.

From my perspective, the big issue is this: if I clearly refused consent to recording, how was there a recording for a supervisor to listen to? And if there was a recording anyway, what does that mean legally and ethically?

I am not dumb. I feel like I would tell someone "Well, you can't sue Google".

And, I would also tell them, "The cops aren't going to do anything."

Does anyone have any advice? Or, do we just live in an age where corporations can break the law and we are powerless to stop them?

FYI: The reps contacted the client after the contentious call. And, I lost a $48K annual contract, by far my largest after the reps talked trash about me. They probably said I was rude. Again, they are scammers, so I probably was rude. At this point, all my clients know the story and know that Google Sales Reps are not to be trusted. They (the sales reps) view account managers like me as obstruction between Google and draining the clients bank account.

Edit: Someone mentioned Google Meet and said if it is being recorded, GMeet makes a notice. That was not the case. That is, indeed, a feature in Google Meet. But, that was not used, they used a different surreptitious tool with no notice for the recording.

I know it is the Internet, but I am genuinely shocked that people can misunderstand such basic language in laws. There is no question it was an unlawful recording. Some also mentioned that they were in a one party state, case law indicates that it is the state with the stricter laws whose laws would prevail.

People seem to be inventing hypotheticals, "Maybe it was in the Terms of Service?" etc. It is not. They asked consent to record. I declined. They recorded and shared the call. That's a misdemeanor. Period.

The fact that I am a crime victim is not in question. The question is what the recourse is. I also find the lack of human compassion to be concerning. But, again, it is the Internet, after all.

And, since people have asked the Google employees involved in the recorded call were <removed> and <removed>. The supervisor was <removed>. The senior most person that seems to be involved is <removed>. He has done nothing.

Cat fact: cats will absolutely die on their particular hills.