Apple has agreed to pay $95 million in a class action lawsuit to users who claim that some of their conversations were recorded and shared by the company’s voice-activated Siri assistant without their knowledge. The proposed settlement, which is pending approval by a federal judge, was filed in an Oakland, California federal court on Tuesday night. Apple has denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement terms, which may provide up to $20 per Siri-enabled device to many U.S. Apple customers involved in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that Apple violated users’ privacy by capturing conversations through Siri without consent and sharing these recordings with third parties. If approved, the settlement would put an end to a five-year legal battle. Users complained that Siri could be inadvertently activated, leading to the recording of private conversations that were later shared with advertisers. For instance, some users reported receiving targeted ads based on discussions they believed were private.
Customers who purchased a Siri-enabled device between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, may be eligible to receive a portion of the settlement payout. Eligible products include iPhones, iPads, HomePod speakers, Mac computers, Apple Watches, and Apple TVs. Class members, estimated to be in the tens of millions, can submit claims for up to five devices, potentially receiving up to $20 per device. Claimants must confirm under oath that Siri has unknowingly recorded private conversations in order to qualify for settlement money.
As part of the settlement terms, Apple would need to delete Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019 and create a webpage to provide more information about Siri’s privacy practices.
Explaining the company’s opt-in “Improve Siri” program.
Contributing: Reuters
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Apple agrees to pay $95 million to settle Siri privacy lawsuit.
