Apple has reached a $95 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant violated users’ privacy. The settlement, filed in Oakland, California, awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White and marks the conclusion of a decade-long controversy over Siri’s inadvertent recording of private conversations.
Allegations and Background
The lawsuit claims that Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, occasionally activated unintentionally and recorded private conversations, which were subsequently shared with third parties, including advertisers. Plaintiffs provided examples, such as receiving ads for Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden after casual mentions of those names and targeted ads for specific medical treatments following private discussions with doctors.
The alleged unauthorized recordings began on September 17, 2014, with the launch of the “Hey, Siri” feature, and continued until December 31, 2024. These incidents raised serious privacy concerns, leading to significant scrutiny of how voice assistants manage user data.
Settlement Details
Under the terms of the proposed settlement:
- Compensation: Eligible class members, estimated in the tens of millions, can receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, including iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.
- Legal Fees: Plaintiffs’ lawyers will seek $28.5 million in fees and $1.1 million in litigation expenses from the settlement fund.
- Privacy Reforms: Apple is required to provide clearer guidelines about how Siri data is used and confirm the deletion of certain recordings collected before October 2019.
Despite agreeing to the settlement, Apple has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that it acted in compliance with its privacy standards.
Implications and Industry Trends
The Siri lawsuit highlights growing consumer concerns over privacy in a digital age where voice assistants are ubiquitous. Apple’s net income of $93.74 billion in its latest fiscal year puts the $95 million settlement in perspective, amounting to just nine hours of profit for the tech giant.
Meanwhile, a similar lawsuit involving Google Assistant is pending in San Jose, California, raising allegations of “False Accepts,” where the assistant activates unintentionally and records conversations. These cases emphasize the critical need for stronger safeguards and transparency in managing user data.
As Apple refines Siri with more advanced AI features, including conversational capabilities, this settlement serves as a reminder of the fine line between innovation and consumer trust. Both tech companies and consumers are watching closely to see how privacy practices evolve in the era of intelligent voice assistants.
