Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that its voice assistant, Siri, recorded users’ private conversations without consent. The lawsuit claimed that Siri was inadvertently activated, leading to the recording and potential sharing of confidential discussions with third parties, including advertisers.
The settlement, filed in a federal court in Oakland, California, awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. If approved, it would allow U.S.-based consumers who owned Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, to file claims for compensation, with potential payouts of up to $20 per device. Eligible users must attest that they experienced unintentional Siri activations during private conversations to qualify for compensation.
Despite agreeing to the settlement, Apple denies any wrongdoing. The company has implemented changes since the lawsuit began, including suspending its quality control program that involved reviewing Siri recordings. Apple emphasizes its commitment to user privacy and has taken steps to ensure that individual Siri audio recordings obtained before October 2019 are permanently deleted within six months of the settlement taking effect.
This settlement highlights ongoing privacy concerns surrounding digital assistants and the challenges tech companies face in balancing user privacy with product improvement. Similar litigation is ongoing against other tech giants, including Google’s Voice Assistant.
Users concerned about their privacy can manage Siri settings on their devices to prevent unintended activations and control data sharing preferences. Apple provides options to disable “Hey Siri” and manage Siri’s access to personal information through device settings.
As digital assistants become increasingly integrated into daily life, this settlement serves as a reminder of the importance of user awareness and control over personal data. Consumers are encouraged to stay informed about the functionalities of their devices and to utilize available privacy settings to protect their confidential information.