Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging its virtual assistant Siri recorded users' private conversations without consent. The settlement, filed in an Oakland federal court, addresses claims spanning from 2014 through 2019.
The lawsuit, initiated five years ago, claimed Apple secretly activated Siri to record conversations through iPhones and other devices, even when users hadn't triggered the assistant with "Hey, Siri." The recordings were allegedly shared with advertisers for targeted marketing purposes.
One plaintiff reported receiving targeted ads for Air Jordans and Olive Garden after private conversations about these products. Another claimed seeing advertisements for medical treatments following confidential discussions with their doctor.
While agreeing to the settlement, Apple firmly denies any wrongdoing or privacy violations. The company maintains its stance that it neither improperly recorded conversations nor shared recordings with third parties without consent.
Under the proposed settlement terms, which await approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, eligible U.S. consumers could receive up to $20 per Siri-equipped device owned during the specified period. Claims will be limited to a maximum of five devices per person.
The settlement also requires Apple to confirm permanent deletion of recordings made before October 2019 and provide clearer instructions for users regarding Siri's data-sharing options.
The $95 million figure represents a small fraction of Apple's profits during the period in question. Legal representatives for the consumers may seek up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund for fees and expenses.
A court hearing is proposed for February 14 in Oakland to review the settlement terms. If approved, tens of millions of consumers who owned Apple devices between September 17, 2014, and the end of 2019 may be eligible to file claims.