[Updated] Google Home ignoring news preferences (plays news from other sources), issue under investigation

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on July 22, 2022) follows:

An unusual Google Assistant glitch is preventing its users from listening to news from their preferred sources. Many Google Home users have been reporting the issue over the last few days.

Due to this bug, those who have set up routines or simply ask Google Assistant to play news end up with news from sources that aren’t set up on their accounts.

Frustrated Google Nest owners have now taken to social media sites like Twitter and Reddit to highlight the issue. We’ve added a few reports about the problem below for reference:

@Google Why is Fox News popping up on my Google Home newsfeed I hear when I ask “Tell me the news.” It’s not on my list and I don’t need to start my day with anger over Fox prevarications. Since it’s not on my list, I can’t take it off…
Source

Our Google Home device randomly added Fox News to my morning routine and it can’t be removed so I’m considering a rational and measured course of action like setting the motherfucking thing on fire and throwing throw it through the goddamn window.
Source

Some users believe that the company is sneakily running an ulterior political agenda and that’s why their Google Home devices are ignoring news preferences. Here’s what they have to say:

Hey Google why tf did you randomly add Fox News radio to my already selected news briefs?? Keep your political agenda off my home hub ya bish.
Source

Official acknowledgment and possible workarounds

Responding to a comment, Google acknowledged the issue and has confirmed that it’s actively investigating the matter.

There also seems to be a temporary workaround for the issue as well. However, it may be a hit or miss according to feedback from users.

It requires resetting the Google Assistant device. However, it may only work for a brief period of time before news from other sources starts playing again.

I’m having the same problem. If I reset the home device, it will work that day then revert back to the same incorrect news feeds the next morning. Having Fox news play instead of NPR was comically unexpected.
Source

When I go to settings, I see my lineup is in there, I even deleted the lineup and reset it. The home device still plays random news. It’s pretty much all I use the device for.
Source

Since the fix is underway, we can only hope for the issue to be resolved soon so that Google Home users can go about their routines untroubled again.

That said, we’ll keep track of any further developments regarding Google Home devices ignoring news preferences and will update the story if and when we come across something useful.

05:44 pm (IST): Some of those affected are now reporting that the issue where Google Home is ignoring news preferences has been resolved.

Featured image source: Google Store

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.