https://consumerist.com/2017/10/12/google-permanently-disables-home-minis-top-touch-panel-after-device-recorded-when-it-shouldnt-have/

Following the news that Google’s new Home Mini connected-home hubs were recording users thousands of times per day because the device refused to stay asleep, Google has permanently disabled the touch-sensitive panel on the top of the Home Mini.

This touch functionality allowed users to activate the Home Mini without first having to say “OK Google” or “Hey Google,” and it also let the user manually pause or play audio streaming through the speaker.