HIGHLIGHTS

Apple has reached a $95 million settlement in a class action lawsuit concerning its voice assistant, Siri, and alleged violations of user privacy.

The lawsuit focuses on allegations that Siri recorded conversations without user consent.

Users claimed these recordings sometimes occurred unintentionally and were passed on to third parties, including advertisers.

In a notable legal development, Apple Inc. has decided to settle a class action lawsuit for $95 million, responding to serious accusations regarding the privacy violations associated with its widely used voice assistant, Siri. This settlement aims to compensate millions of mobile users who assert that Siri recorded their private conversations without their explicit consent.

The crux of the lawsuit lies in user complaints, which detail instances of Siri beginning to record conversations unexpectedly. This issue predominantly arose when the voice assistant was inadvertently activated, and plaintiffs allege that these recordings were shared with various third parties, among them advertisers. Claimants contend that such unauthorized recordings were utilized to tailor targeted ads to their interests.

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A pivotal aspect of the case revolves around Siri’s “Hey, Siri” feature, which allows for hands-free activation of the assistant. Plaintiffs provided evidence indicating that their private discussions—including mentions of popular products like Air Jordan sneakers and dining establishments like Olive Garden—subsequently resulted in ads related to those topics appearing. One individual even reported receiving advertising for a surgical procedure brand just after discussing the treatment privately with their physician, as highlighted by reports from Reuters.

The class period for the lawsuit is defined as spanning from September 17, 2014, until December 31, 2024. This timeframe corresponds to when the “Hey, Siri” feature was introduced, leading to the alleged unauthorised recordings. Users eligible for compensation under the settlement will receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they own, which includes various models of iPhones and Apple Watches.

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While Apple refutes any wrongdoing in the matter, the decision to settle was made with a view to sidestep prolonged litigation. The legal representatives for the plaintiffs are expected to request approximately $28.5 million in fees, in addition to $1.1 million intended for expenses drawn from the settlement fund.

The $95 million awarded in this settlement represents only a minuscule percentage of Apple’s substantial profits, which totaled around $93.74 billion in its most recent fiscal year. In parallel, Google is currently grappling with a similar lawsuit regarding its Voice Assistant, with the same legal teams advocating for the aggrieved parties in both cases.