Apple agreed to a $95 million settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging privacy violations by its Siri voice assistant, according to a new report. The lawsuit, filed in Oakland, California federal court, claims that Apple’s virtual assistant recorded users’ private conversations without consent and shared this information with advertisers.
So, should a federal judge approve the settlement, millions of Apple device users could see small payouts (most likely less than $20 per device, given the vast number of devices running Siri).
Apple agrees to pay $95 million in Siri privacy settlement
The settlement, which awaits approval from a U.S. District Judge, addresses concerns from users who reported Siri inadvertently recording private conversations when unintentionally activated, according to Reuters. The issue stems from Siri’s “Hey, Siri” feature, introduced in September 2014, which allegedly led to unauthorized recordings of personal conversations.
Several users reported concerning incidents of targeted advertising following private conversations. In two notable cases, users received advertisements for Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants shortly after mentioning these brands. Perhaps most alarming, one user reported receiving ads for a specific surgical treatment after what they believed was a private consultation with their doctor.
Small payouts to users
The settlement could pay out small amounts to tens of millions of Apple users who owned Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. Eligible devices include iPhones, Apple Watches and other Apple products featuring Siri capabilities. Individual class members may receive up to $20 per qualifying device.
While agreeing to the settlement, Apple maintains its position of no wrongdoing in the matter. It has not commented about the new settlement filing.
The $95 million settlement amount represents about nine hours of Apple’s profit based on its staggering $93.74 billion net income in the last fiscal year. The settlement amount will include up to $28.5 million in legal fees and $1.1 million in expenses for the plaintiffs’ lawyers.
Privacy concerns over voice-activated tech
This case highlights growing concerns about privacy in the age of voice-activated technology. Voice assistants typically activate when they detect specific “hot words” such as “Hey, Siri,” but questions remain about the balance between convenience and privacy. The settlement comes as similar privacy concerns emerge across the tech industry, with a parallel lawsuit pending against Google‘s Voice Assistant in San Jose federal court.
The case is formally known as Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 19-04577. Further details about claiming compensation should become available following approval of the settlement.
