Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its Siri voice assistant recorded users without their consent. The settlement stems from claims that Siri improperly captured and disclosed private conversations to third parties, including advertisers.
Accidental Activations Spark Lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims Siri was routinely activated unintentionally when users said phrases resembling "Hey Siri," the command used to wake the voice assistant. Complainants alleged that these accidental activations resulted in private conversations being recorded and shared without their knowledge.
Plaintiffs in the case cited specific instances where they received targeted advertisements shortly after discussing products or services in private. One user claimed they were served ads for Air Jordan sneakers after casually mentioning them in conversation, while another reported receiving ads for surgical treatments after speaking privately with their doctor.
Compensation for Siri Users
As part of the settlement, eligible members of the class action may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device they own, including iPhones, Apple Watches, and smart speakers. While Apple denied any wrongdoing, the company opted to settle the case to avoid further litigation.
.png "Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its Siri voice assistant recorded users without their consent. The settlement stems from claims that Siri improperly captured and disclosed private conversations to third parties, including advertisers. Accidental Activations Spark Lawsuit The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims Siri was routinely activated unintentionally when users said phrases resembling \"Hey Siri,\" the command used to wake the voice assistant. Complainants alleged that these accidental activations resulted in private conversations being recorded and shared without their knowledge. Plaintiffs in the case cited specific instances where they received targeted advertisements shortly after discussing products or services in private. One user claimed they were served ads for Air Jordan sneakers after casually mentioning them in conversation, while another reported receiving ads for surgical treatments after speaking privately with their doctor. Compensation for Siri Users As part of the settlement, eligible members of the class action may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device they own, including iPhones, Apple Watches, and smart speakers. While Apple denied any wrongdoing, the company opted to settle the case to avoid further litigation. Apple’s Financial Perspective The $95 million payout represents a fraction of Apple's massive financial resources. The tech giant, which reported net income of nearly $94 billion in the last fiscal year, generates that amount in just nine hours of profit. Apple has not issued a public statement regarding the settlement. Similar Cases in the Tech Industry This lawsuit highlights growing concerns over the privacy implications of voice assistants. A similar legal battle involving Google’s voice assistant is also underway in California, signaling broader scrutiny of how tech companies handle user data.")
Apple’s Financial Perspective
The $95 million payout represents a fraction of Apple's massive financial resources. The tech giant, which reported net income of nearly $94 billion in the last fiscal year, generates that amount in just nine hours of profit. Apple has not issued a public statement regarding the settlement.
Similar Cases in the Tech Industry
This lawsuit highlights growing concerns over the privacy implications of voice assistants. A similar legal battle involving Google’s voice assistant is also underway in California, signaling broader scrutiny of how tech companies handle user data.