Apple Agrees to $95M Settlement in Siri Privacy Lawsuit

Apple Inc. has agreed to pay $95 million in cash to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging its Siri voice assistant violated users’ privacy by unintentionally recording private conversations.

The preliminary settlement was filed in Oakland, California’s federal court and is subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.

Claims of Unauthorized Recordings

The lawsuit alleged that Apple’s Siri routinely recorded private conversations without user consent after being unintentionally activated. These recordings were reportedly shared with third parties, including advertisers.

Voice assistants like Siri respond to “hot words” such as “Hey, Siri.” Plaintiffs claimed that accidental activations led to targeted advertisements. For example, one plaintiff said discussing Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants triggered related ads. Another claimed receiving ads for a surgical treatment after discussing it with a doctor.

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Eligibility and Compensation

The class period spans from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, starting when Apple introduced the “Hey, Siri” feature.

Class members, potentially tens of millions of users, may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, such as iPhones and Apple Watches.

Apple denied any wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement.

Legal and Financial Details

Lawyers for the plaintiffs plan to request up to $28.5 million in fees and $1.1 million for expenses from the settlement fund.

The $95 million settlement represents a fraction of Apple’s financial scale. The company reported $93.74 billion in net income for its latest fiscal year, meaning the settlement is equivalent to roughly nine hours of profit.

Related Cases

A similar lawsuit involving Google’s Voice Assistant is pending in the San Jose federal court, within the same district as the Apple case. The plaintiffs in both cases are represented by the same law firms.

The Apple case is identified as Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 19-04577.

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Layla Hango

Layla Hango is a dedicated author at The Chieftain Spear, where she delves into stories that highlight cultural richness, social issues, and community empowerment. With a passion for storytelling that inspires and informs, Layla brings a fresh perspective to her writing. Her work resonates with readers seeking meaningful dialogue and a deeper understanding of diverse experiences. Through her articles, Layla aims to spark positive change and celebrate the strength of collective voices.

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