Apple has reached a $95 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit accusing its virtual assistant Siri of eavesdropping on private conversations. The lawsuit, filed in Northern California, alleged that Siri recorded users without their consent and shared some of these recordings with third parties, including advertisers.
Despite agreeing to the settlement, Apple has firmly denied the allegations, maintaining that it “has at all times denied and continues to deny any and all alleged wrongdoing.” The settlement, pending a judge’s approval, outlines that Apple will pay affected users up to $20 per Siri-enabled device owned between 2014 and 2019.
Lawsuit Details and Allegations
The lawsuit, initiated five years ago, claimed that Siri was activated unintentionally, capturing private conversations without users saying the wake phrase “Hey, Siri.” Some recordings allegedly contained sensitive personal information that was later shared with advertisers to better target ads.
Lead plaintiff Fumiko Lopez, along with others, stated that discussions about products such as Air Jordans led to targeted advertisements, reinforcing claims of privacy violations.
Apple has also agreed to confirm the deletion of any overheard conversations and clarify its policies regarding voice data collection.
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Broader Implications and Comparisons
This settlement marks another privacy-related challenge for Apple, a company that touts user privacy as a cornerstone of its brand. In 2023, Amazon faced similar accusations and agreed to pay over $30 million for violating privacy with its Alexa assistant and Ring cameras.
Apple, which reported a staggering $94.9 billion in revenue last quarter, has faced several class-action lawsuits recently. In 2024, the company began paying $500 million in a lawsuit over deliberately slowing iPhones, and it agreed to a $490 million settlement in the UK over similar claims.
Implications for Apple Users
If approved, the settlement will allow U.S.-based users of Siri-equipped devices to claim compensation. The fund covers devices like iPhones, iPads, and HomePods purchased between 2014 and 2019, with payouts capped at $20 per device and five devices per claimant.
While the settlement offers financial restitution, critics argue that such payouts do little to deter tech giants from similar privacy violations. With a court hearing set for February 14, the case underscores the ongoing tension between user privacy and corporate accountability.