Apple has reached a proposed $95 million settlement to resolve allegations stemming from the Apple Siri class action lawsuit, which claims that its voice assistant violated user privacy by unintentionally recording private conversations without consent. The lawsuit also alleges that some of these recordings were shared with third parties, raising significant privacy concerns. This settlement is currently awaiting approval by a California federal court.
What is the Apple Siri Privacy Lawsuit?
The Apple Siri class action lawsuit involves claims that the Siri voice assistant infringed on users’ privacy by recording private conversations without their knowledge or consent. The lawsuit alleges that these recordings were sometimes shared with third parties, including advertisers, resulting in targeted ads. These accusations go against Apple’s long-standing commitment to customer privacy.
Filed in Oakland, California, the proposed settlement still requires approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White before it becomes final. A court hearing is scheduled for February 14 in Oakland to review the case. The lawsuit applies to Siri-enabled devices used from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024.
Details of the Apple Siri Class Action Settlement
Under the terms of the settlement, Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to resolve the claims. Affected users could receive up to $20 per eligible device. The plaintiffs’ legal team is also seeking $28.5 million in legal fees and $1.1 million in expenses.
While Apple denies any wrongdoing, the company chose to settle to avoid further litigation. The lawsuit claims that Siri recorded conversations about topics such as products and services, leading to targeted ads, even when users hadn’t intentionally activated the assistant.
The Significance of the Apple Siri Class Action Lawsuit
Though $95 million may seem relatively small for a company like Apple, which earned more than $93 billion in annual profits, the settlement highlights the growing concerns surrounding voice assistant technologies and their handling of sensitive user data. The Apple Siri class action lawsuit raises important questions about privacy in the digital age and calls attention to the practices of major tech companies when it comes to user information.
A similar class action lawsuit has been filed against Google’s Voice Assistant, with the same legal team handling both cases in the same district. This indicates that privacy concerns regarding voice assistants are becoming a broader issue in the tech industry.
The proposed $95 million settlement in the Apple Siri class action lawsuit underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in how voice assistants handle user data. As the case moves toward approval, it serves as a reminder of the increasing scrutiny of tech companies and their privacy practices. The outcome of this lawsuit could have lasting implications for the future of voice assistant technologies and user privacy.
