Millions of Apple device owners may be eligible for a payout in a proposed $95 million Siri privacy settlement

Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant recorded private conversations when unintentionally activated and shared them with third parties. The lawsuit claims these privacy violations occurred over a decade, starting in 2014 with the introduction of the "Hey, Siri" feature. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Apple has agreed to the settlement, which awaits court approval. Eligible class members in the U.S. could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, depending on the number of claimants and devices owned. The settlement also requires Apple to publish a webpage explaining Siri's data usage and confirm the deletion of audio recordings collected before October 2019.

The lawsuit followed a 2019 report by The Guardian revealing that Apple contractors overheard private conversations while reviewing Siri recordings. In response, Apple apologized and revised its quality control processes. The settlement includes $28.5 million in legal fees and $1.1 million in litigation expenses for the plaintiffs. Apple first introduced Siri in 2011 with the iPhone 4S and is now enhancing Siri with AI capabilities for more complex interactions, expected to be fully rolled out next year.

Key takeaways

Apple agreed to a $95 million settlement for a class-action lawsuit alleging Siri privacy violations.
The lawsuit claims Siri recorded private conversations when unintentionally activated and shared them with third parties.
Eligible class members can receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, depending on the number of claimants.
Apple plans to enhance Siri with AI capabilities, including "on-screen awareness" and "personal context understanding," expected to roll out next year.

Millions of Apple device owners may be eligible for a payout in a proposed $95 million Siri privacy settlement

Key takeaways

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