Apple’s costly $95 million settlement over Siri privacy violations raises questions about tech giants’ data handling practices.
At a Glance
- Apple resolves a lawsuit over Siri privacy concerns with a $95 million settlement.
- The lawsuit alleges Siri recorded conversations without consent, sharing them with third parties.
- Class members may receive up to $20 per device if they declare recorded interactions.
- Apple’s settlement awaits approval by US District Judge Jeffrey White.
Apple Faces Privacy Lawsuit Settlement
Apple agreed to a $95 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit over privacy violations by its Siri voice assistant. Plaintiffs accuse Siri of recording private conversations without consent and sharing them with third parties like advertisers. Apple denies wrongdoing but apologized in 2019 after revelations that contractors overheard conversations during quality control.
This settlement, filed as Lopez et al v. Apple Inc. in California, includes legal fees estimated at $28.5 million plus $1.1 million for litigation expenses. The settlement awaits approval by US District Judge Jeffrey White.
Apple to pay $95 million to settle Siri privacy lawsuit https://t.co/jXz57KS3Sq
— Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) January 2, 2025
Compensation and Criteria for Affected Users
Eligible class members in the US could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device if they declare having recorded conversations. This covers a period between September 2014 and December 2024, coinciding with the “Hey, Siri” feature launch. Eligible individuals must be current or former device owners and declare their conversations were recorded.
“As a result of our review, we realize we haven’t been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that, we apologize,” Apple said in 2019.
The settlement dictates Apple to create a webpage explaining Siri’s data collection and storage, and to confirm the permanent deletion of pre-October 2019 audio recordings.
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit, accusing the company of violating user privacy due to recording conversations after accidentally activating Siri. By @MalcolmOwen
— AppleInsider (@appleinsider) January 2, 2025
Looking Forward with Advanced Siri Features
Apple plans to introduce an advanced AI-powered Siri with capabilities like “on-screen awareness” and “personal context understanding.” This advanced Siri, aimed for next year, reflects Apple’s ongoing commitment to evolving their technology while managing user trust and privacy.
This case marks a significant step in holding tech giants accountable and enhancing their practices to protect consumer privacy. Meanwhile, a similar lawsuit against Google persists, indicating a wider industry challenge in reconciling innovation with ethical standards.
