Apple to Pay $95 Million in Siri Privacy Settlement: What It Means for You
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit concerning Siri's privacy issues, a move that could have significant implications for your personal privacy.
Apple Agrees to Pay $95 Million Settlement
Technology titan Apple has consented to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class action filed in 2019, which accused its virtual assistant Siri of recording conversations and thus breaching user privacy.
Preliminary Settlement Filed
Despite Apple’s denial of any wrongdoing, a settlement proposal was submitted last Tuesday to the federal court in Oakland, California. This agreement still awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White and could mean compensation for tens of millions of Apple users.
Private Conversations Recorded
The class action concerns customers who used an Apple product enabled by Siri from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024. This spans nearly all of Apple’s portfolio, from iPhones and Macs to Apple Watches and HomePods. The lawsuit claims that Apple devices recorded private conversations following Siri’s accidental activation, with these recordings subsequently transmitted to advertisers.
Two plaintiffs told Reuters that mentions of Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants triggered ads for these brands, while a third claimed to have received ads for surgical treatments after what they believed was a private conversation with their doctor.
A Common Industry Practice
It’s important to note that manually reviewing recordings to enhance digital assistants has also been implemented by Amazon and Google. The review of recordings by third-party subcontractors was part of a quality assurance program aimed at improving Siri’s accuracy.
What Now?
If you are among the affected users, you could receive up to $20 in compensation once the settlement is approved. However, the actual amount might be less after legal fees are deducted. Plaintiffs’ attorneys may claim up to $28.5 million in fees and $1.1 million for expenses.