Apple Settles Siri Privacy Claims with a Whopping $95 Million Deal

Apple has consented to a significant $95 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit that alleged its widely used voice assistant, Siri, was covertly eavesdropping on users’ private conversations. The class-action lawsuit, which was initially lodged five years ago, asserted that Siri was inadvertently activated on Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and HomePods, capturing confidential dialogues without the users’ awareness or approval.

Although accepting the settlement, Apple has unwaveringly refuted any allegations of misconduct. In a statement included in the settlement document, the tech behemoth highlighted, “Apple has at all times denied and continues to deny any and all alleged wrongdoing and liability.”

The Cupertino firm has insisted that it did not deliberately violate any user privacy and that it prioritizes privacy as a fundamental aspect of its brand identity.

What Was The Lawsuit About?

The essence of the lawsuit centers on claims that audio recordings, which were generated when Siri was unintentionally activated, were retained by Apple and potentially shared with external contractors.

This assertion raised alarms regarding the company’s privacy policies, particularly considering that Apple has long positioned itself as a frontrunner in safeguarding user privacy.

Who Will Receive The $95 Million Settlement?

The suggested settlement fund of $95 million will be distributed to reimburse US users whose private discussions were recorded by Siri without their permission.

Compensation is anticipated to reach up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device owned by the affected users.

Beyond the financial compensation, Apple is obliged to implement specific measures to reassure its clientele about their privacy. The company must verify that any unintentional recordings of users’ dialogues have been erased and offer clearer options for users concerning the collection of voice data aimed at Siri’s enhancement.

These measures are intended to foster greater transparency regarding how Siri gathers and processes voice data.

A Precedent For Smart Assistants

While Apple has yet to publicly respond to requests for additional comments, this settlement could establish an important precedent for how digital assistants manage user privacy. This case follows comparable actions within the tech sector, with companies like Amazon having previously settled lawsuits associated with privacy issues.

Significantly, in 2023, Amazon agreed to pay over $30 million to settle a lawsuit concerning privacy with its Alexa assistant and Ring doorbell cameras.