Apple Agrees to Pay $95 Million to Settle Siri Privacy Lawsuit
Apple Inc. (AAPL.O) has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant violated user privacy. The settlement, filed on Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, requires approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.
The lawsuit claimed that Apple’s Siri assistant recorded private conversations unintentionally and disclosed the recordings to third parties, such as advertisers, without user consent.
Allegations of Privacy Violations
Users alleged that Siri’s activation mechanism, which relies on “hot words” like “Hey, Siri,” frequently misfired, resulting in unauthorized recordings. According to the plaintiffs, this led to targeted advertisements based on private conversations.
For example, two plaintiffs reported seeing ads for Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants after mentioning them near their devices. Another plaintiff alleged he received ads for a specific surgical procedure shortly after discussing it privately with his doctor.
The lawsuit focuses on a class period spanning from Sept. 17, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2024. This period begins with the introduction of Siri’s “Hey, Siri” feature, which the plaintiffs argue was the source of the unauthorized recordings.
Settlement Details
Under the terms of the settlement, class members—estimated to be in the tens of millions—could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device. Eligible devices include iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and other products equipped with the Siri assistant.
Apple has denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to resolve the claims and avoid prolonged litigation. The company has not commented publicly on the case.
Lawyers representing the plaintiffs are seeking up to $28.5 million in legal fees and $1.1 million in expenses from the settlement fund.
A Drop in the Bucket for Apple
The $95 million settlement represents a fraction of Apple’s financial power. In its most recent fiscal year, the Cupertino-based tech giant reported a net income of $93.74 billion. To put the settlement in perspective, $95 million equates to roughly nine hours of profit for the company.
A Broader Issue in Voice Assistants
Apple’s case is not unique. A similar lawsuit against Google’s (GOOGL.O) Voice Assistant is pending in federal court in San Jose, California. Interestingly, the same law firms representing the plaintiffs in the Apple case are involved in the Google lawsuit.
Voice assistant privacy concerns have become a growing issue as these technologies are increasingly integrated into daily life. Critics argue that companies must do more to ensure these tools respect user privacy and do not inadvertently collect sensitive information.
The Case and Its Implications
The lawsuit, titled Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 19-04577). If approved, the settlement could serve as a precedent for similar cases involving other tech giants and their voice assistants.
While Apple has resolved this particular lawsuit, the case highlights ongoing concerns about privacy in the tech industry. Consumers, regulators, and privacy advocates are calling for stricter oversight to ensure companies adhere to privacy standards and transparency in their data collection practices.
The Bigger Picture
The settlement comes amid a broader conversation about the balance between innovation and user privacy. As voice assistants become more prevalent in smart devices, companies face increasing pressure to refine their technology and prevent accidental data collection.
For consumers, the case underscores the importance of understanding how their data is used and stored. For tech companies, it’s a reminder that even small oversights can lead to significant legal and reputational consequences.
