Apple to settle Siri privacy lawsuit

Apple has agreed to settle a five-year legal dispute over user privacy concerns related to its virtual assistant, Siri, with a $95 million payment to affected customers as part of a preliminary settlement.

The lawsuit, a class-action case, accused Apple of violating users’ privacy by allowing its virtual assistant Siri to be accidentally triggered, recording parts of private conversations without consent, and then sending these recordings to third parties for review.

Although Apple has not commented directly on the case, it maintained in the settlement agreement filed Tuesday that it “continues to deny any and all alleged wrongdoing.”

Siri, first introduced as a standalone app, became an iconic feature when it was integrated into the iPhone 4S in 2011. Apple later introduced the “Hey Siri” feature in 2014, allowing users to activate Siri by voice. However, users soon discovered that Siri could activate unintentionally, recording audio of private moments. In some instances, these recordings were sent to contractors worldwide for review, exposing sensitive personal information.

The settlement, which still requires court approval, also stipulates that Apple must ensure the deletion of all Siri audio recordings made before October 2019. Additionally, Apple will be required to publish a webpage explaining its “Improve Siri” program and how users can opt in.

If you’ve experienced Siri mistakenly activating and recording conversations, you may be eligible to file a claim, even if you aren’t directly contacted by the settlement administrator.

To qualify for a share of the payout, individuals must have purchased or owned a Siri-enabled device, such as an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, or Apple TV, between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. Claimants must also attest under oath that they experienced accidental Siri activations during private conversations.

If individuals choose to accept the settlement, they forfeit their right to pursue related legal claims against Apple. The settlement allows each individual to claim compensation for up to five Siri-powered devices, with a maximum payout of $20 per device, provided U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White approves the agreement.


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