In a significant move to resolve a privacy lawsuit, Apple Inc. has agreed to pay $95 million in a proposed settlement over claims that its voice-activated assistant, Siri, violated users’ privacy. The settlement, filed in a federal court in Oakland, California, will require approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White before becoming final.
The lawsuit, a class action brought by mobile device users, alleged that Apple secretly recorded private conversations triggered by unintentional activations of Siri, disclosing these recordings to third parties, including advertisers. The issue surfaced when plaintiffs reported receiving targeted ads after mentioning certain products or services in private conversations. One plaintiff said an off-hand mention of “Air Jordan sneakers” and “Olive Garden” led to ads for those exact items. Another plaintiff claimed to have seen ads for a medical procedure after discussing it privately with his doctor.
The class action covers a period from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, starting when Apple introduced the “Hey, Siri” feature, which allegedly caused unintentional recordings. Users of Siri-enabled devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, may receive up to $20 per eligible device as part of the settlement.
Despite agreeing to settle, Apple has denied any wrongdoing, and the company’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The legal team representing the plaintiffs could seek up to $28.5 million in attorney’s fees and $1.1 million in expenses, to be deducted from the settlement fund.
While the $95 million settlement represents a small fraction of Apple’s annual profit — approximately nine hours of the company’s $93.74 billion in net income for the latest fiscal year — it signals a significant moment in privacy protection for users of smart devices. The lawsuit also follows similar cases, including one concerning Google’s Voice Assistant, which remains pending in federal court in San Jose, California.
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