Apple Settles Siri Privacy Lawsuit for $95 Million

Apple will pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that its Siri assistant violated user privacy. The lawsuit claims Siri recorded private conversations unintentionally, raising concerns about data sharing with advertisers.

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of violating user privacy through its voice-activated assistant, Siri. The settlement, filed in a California federal court, awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.

The lawsuit claims that Siri routinely recorded users’ private conversations unintentionally and shared the data with third parties, including advertisers.

How Siri Allegedly Violated Privacy

Voice assistants like Siri typically respond to “hot words” such as “Hey, Siri.” However, users alleged that Siri activated without their intent and recorded sensitive discussions.

Who Is Eligible for Compensation?

The class-action period covers Siri-enabled devices used between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, when the “Hey, Siri” feature became prominent.

Eligible users could receive up to $20 per device, including iPhones and Apple Watches.
The settlement may impact millions of users.

Apple’s Position and Settlement Terms

Apple denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the lawsuit.

Legal Fees: Lawyers for the plaintiffs may request up to $28.5 million in legal fees and $1.1 million for expenses from the settlement fund.
Company Response: Apple did not immediately comment on the settlement.

Broader Implications and Related Cases

The $95 million settlement represents approximately nine hours of profit for Apple, which reported a net income of $93.74 billion in its last fiscal year.

A similar lawsuit targeting Google’s Voice Assistant is pending in the same district court. The plaintiffs in both cases are represented by the same legal teams.