Agrees to $95 Million Settlement in Siri Privacy Lawsuit – In a significant development for tech privacy concerns, Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over alleged privacy violations involving its virtual assistant, Siri. The settlement, reached in late December 2024, marks the end of a five-year legal battle that accused the tech giant of recording and sharing users’ private conversations without their consent.
The Allegations: Siri’s Accidental Eavesdropping
The lawsuit claimed that Siri, Apple’s popular voice-activated assistant, would sometimes activate without the “Hey Siri” wake phrase, leading to unauthorized recordings of private conversations. These recordings were then allegedly shared with third-party companies, including advertisers, raising serious privacy concerns.Plaintiffs in the case reported receiving targeted advertisements for products they had only mentioned in private conversations, suggesting their discussions had been recorded and the information shared without their knowledge or consent.
Settlement Details and Compensation
The $95 million settlement, which is still pending approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, could benefit tens of millions of Apple users. Key points of the settlement include:
- Eligibility: Users who owned Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024
- Potential Compensation: Up to $20 per eligible Siri-enabled device
- Claim Limit: Users can claim compensation for a maximum of five devices
It’s important to note that while Apple has agreed to the settlement, the company denies any wrongdoing.
Apple’s Response and Privacy Measures
In response to the initial allegations in 2019, Apple implemented several changes to its Siri-related practices:
- Conducted an internal review of Siri practices
- Introduced new permission prompts for Siri audio recording
- Implemented the “Ask App Not to Track” privacy feature
As part of the settlement, Apple has also agreed to confirm the permanent deletion of Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019 and to publish a webpage explaining how users can opt-in to improve Siri and what information Apple collects.
Implications for Tech Privacy
This settlement highlights the ongoing challenges tech companies face as voice-activated assistants become increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. It underscores the delicate balance between providing convenient services and protecting user privacy.
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