Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant violated users’ privacy. A preliminary settlement, filed on Tuesday in a federal court in Oakland, California, awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.
The lawsuit claimed that Apple recorded private conversations when Siri was unintentionally activated and shared these recordings with third parties, including advertisers. Voice assistants, like Siri, typically respond to “hot words” such as “Hey, Siri.”
Plaintiffs reported incidents where casual mentions of products like Air Jordan sneakers or Olive Garden led to related advertisements. Another plaintiff claimed to receive ads for a specific surgical treatment after discussing it privately with a doctor.
The class period spans from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, coinciding with the introduction of Siri’s “Hey, Siri” feature, which allegedly caused unauthorized recordings.
Class members, numbering in the tens of millions, could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, such as iPhones and Apple Watches. Apple, which denied any wrongdoing, agreed to settle without admitting liability.
Lawyers representing the plaintiffs may request up to $28.5 million in fees and $1.1 million in expenses from the settlement fund. Apple’s $95 million settlement represents approximately nine hours of its annual profit, which totaled $93.74 billion in the last fiscal year.
A similar lawsuit involving Google’s Voice Assistant is ongoing in the same district, with the plaintiffs represented by the same legal teams. The Apple case is titled Lopez et al. v. Apple Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 19-04577.
Apple’s settlement highlights growing concerns over privacy breaches by technology companies, especially those involving voice assistants that integrate deeply into daily life. The outcome of this case may set a precedent for similar legal challenges, including the ongoing lawsuit against Google’s Voice Assistant.
Privacy advocates have raised alarms about the potential misuse of personal data collected through these devices. They argue that companies should implement more robust safeguards to ensure user consent and transparency about how data is handled and shared. Critics also emphasize the need for stronger regulatory oversight to prevent unauthorized data usage.
The case has also reignited public debates about the trade-offs between convenience and privacy. While features like voice activation make devices more user-friendly, they can inadvertently expose sensitive information if not properly managed.
Apple’s settlement comes amid heightened scrutiny of big tech companies’ data practices globally. Regulatory bodies in various countries are pushing for stricter data protection laws and higher accountability for companies handling user information. These developments are likely to impact the design and operation of voice assistants and other AI-driven technologies in the future.
For users, this case serves as a reminder to review device settings and be cautious about enabling features like voice activation. By understanding privacy policies and exercising available controls, users can better safeguard their personal data.
