Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that its virtual assistant Siri recorded users' private conversations without consent. The preliminary settlement was filed in federal court in Oakland, California, and awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.
The lawsuit claims that Apple's Siri voice assistant frequently activated without the "Hey Siri" wake command, recording private conversations and sharing them with third parties, including advertisers. Multiple plaintiffs reported receiving targeted advertisements directly related to their private discussions.
In one instance, users reported getting advertisements for Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants shortly after having conversations about these products. Another plaintiff described receiving ads for specific medical treatments following a private consultation with their doctor.
The proposed settlement covers anyone who owned Siri-enabled Apple devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024 - a period that began when Apple introduced the "Hey Siri" feature. Class members, estimated to number in the tens of millions, may receive up to $20 per qualifying device, including iPhones and Apple Watches.
The settlement comes after five years of litigation and resulted from negotiations between both parties. While agreeing to the monetary settlement, Apple maintains its position and denies any wrongdoing in the matter.
If approved, this settlement would resolve allegations about unauthorized recordings and data sharing that have raised privacy concerns among Apple device users. The case highlights growing consumer awareness about digital privacy and the responsibilities of tech companies in protecting user data.