Apple to pay $95 million to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of eavesdropping

Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit accusing the company of using its virtual assistant, Siri, to eavesdrop on users without their consent. The class-action lawsuit, filed five years ago, alleged that Siri recorded conversations on iPhones and other devices even when not activated with the trigger phrase “Hey, Siri.” These recordings were reportedly shared with advertisers to target consumers with personalized ads.

The settlement, submitted to a federal court in Oakland, California, does not include an admission of wrongdoing by Apple. If approved, eligible consumers who owned Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and the end of 2023 can claim up to $20 per device, with compensation capped at five devices per individual. However, the payout may vary depending on the number of claims filed.

The proposed settlement is a small fraction of the estimated $705 billion in profits Apple has earned since 2014 and far less than the $1.5 billion potential liability cited if Apple had been found guilty of privacy violations. A hearing to review the settlement terms is scheduled for February 14, 2025. Attorneys in the case may claim nearly $30 million from the settlement for fees and expenses.

Source: AP News