Apple to pay $95m to settle Siri ‘listening’ lawsuit
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Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its devices, specifically Siri, were recording users without their consent. The lawsuit accused the tech company of secretly listening in on conversations and sharing voice recordings with advertisers. While Apple has denied any wrongdoing, the settlement aims to resolve the claims.
The lawsuit centered on allegations that Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, was unintentionally activated and recorded conversations even when users did not say “Hey, Siri.” These recordings were purportedly shared with third-party advertisers who analyzed the audio for targeted ads. The lead plaintiff, Fumiko Lopez, claimed that both she and her daughter had their conversations recorded without their knowledge. They allege that after discussing products like Air Jordans, they were shown targeted ads related to those products.
In the preliminary settlement, Apple has not admitted to recording or disclosing voice recordings to third parties without consent. The company also stated that it had deleted individual Siri recordings collected before October 2019. Apple’s legal team maintains that no conversations were recorded intentionally or shared with advertisers without user consent.
Under the terms of the settlement, affected users, all of whom must be based in the U.S., could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device they owned between 2014 and 2019. This class action lawsuit operates by allowing a few individuals to represent a larger group, with the settlement funds being distributed among all eligible claimants. Lawyers involved in the case are expected to take about 30% of the settlement fee, which amounts to nearly $30 million.
The settlement comes after Apple faced the possibility of a lengthy and costly court case. By agreeing to the settlement, Apple avoids the risk of a much larger payout that could result from a trial. The company, which reported a revenue of $94.9 billion in the quarter ending September 2024, continues to face multiple class action lawsuits. In January 2024, Apple began paying out a $500 million lawsuit over allegations that it deliberately slowed down older iPhones. The company also agreed to a $490 million settlement in March 2024, following claims led by Norfolk County Council in the UK.
The ongoing legal challenges faced by Apple highlight the growing scrutiny tech companies are under regarding user privacy. In addition to its ongoing litigation, Apple is also contending with a class action brought against it by the consumer group Which?, accusing the company of overcharging customers through its iCloud service. The law firm handling the Siri lawsuit is also representing a similar case against Google, accusing the tech giant of eavesdropping through its devices. That case is also currently being heard in the same California court.
This settlement reflects the growing concerns over privacy and data security in the tech industry. Despite denying wrongdoing, Apple’s decision to settle allows the company to avoid further public scrutiny and potential financial risk, while offering compensation to affected users. However, the case serves as a reminder of the challenges tech companies face in maintaining user trust and complying with privacy laws in an era where data collection practices are under intense examination.
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