Apple to pay $95M in Siri privacy lawsuit settlement

Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement following allegations that Siri recordings violated user privacy between 2014 and 2024.

Key details of the settlement; The class action lawsuit, filed in 2019, covers customers who used Siri-enabled Apple devices over a ten-year period.

• The settlement awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in Oakland, California
• Affected customers could receive up to $20 in compensation, though the final amount may be lower after legal fees
• Legal teams can seek up to $28.5 million in fees and $1.1 million for expenses

Core allegations: Users claimed that Apple’s voice assistant recorded private conversations without proper consent and shared the information with advertisers.

• Multiple plaintiffs reported receiving targeted advertisements related to specific brands and services mentioned in private conversations
• The recordings occurred when Siri was unintentionally activated
• Third-party contractors reviewed these recordings as part of a quality assurance program to improve Siri’s accuracy

Broader context: The practice of reviewing voice assistant recordings extends beyond Apple to other major tech companies.

• Both Amazon and Google have employed similar practices of manually reviewing recordings
• Apple suspended its review program following public outcry
• The company maintains its denial of any wrongdoing while agreeing to the settlement

Affected users: The settlement encompasses a wide range of Apple products and users over an extensive timeframe.

• All Siri-enabled devices are included, from iPhones and Macs to Apple Watches and HomePod speakers
• The class period spans from September 17, 2014 (when “Hey, Siri” was introduced) through December 31, 2024
• Tens of millions of Apple users could potentially receive compensation

Financial perspective: While significant for consumers, the settlement represents a minor financial impact for Apple.

• The $95 million settlement amount equals approximately 0.1% of Apple’s Q4 2024 revenue of $94.9 billion
• Individual payouts will likely be modest once distributed among affected users and after legal fees

Privacy implications: This settlement highlights ongoing concerns about voice assistant privacy and data collection practices in the tech industry, while potentially establishing precedent for future cases involving AI-powered voice assistants and user privacy rights.