Apple agrees to pay $95 million in settlement for Siri privacy lawsuit without acknowledging wrongdoing
Apple Agrees to Pay $95 Million to Settle Siri Privacy Lawsuit
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice-activated devices improperly recorded, stored, and shared private conversations without user consent. The settlement applies to current and former owners of Siri-enabled devices from September 17, 2014, through December 31, 2024.
The lawsuit, which originated in 2019, claims that Apple's Siri devices eavesdropped on private conversations unintentionally and shared data without consent. The affected devices include iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, Apple TV, and other Siri-enabled products.
The settlement provides up to $20 per eligible Siri device, with consumers having until July 2, 2025, to file claims. However, it is important to note that this settlement does not resolve the claims of unauthorized recording or sharing of recordings with advertisers, which are still part of the ongoing legal proceedings.
The lawsuit suggests that Apple's privacy practices may not be as robust as they claim. This settlement comes after another recent lawsuit in the UK resulted in a $490 million settlement. However, settling does not necessarily imply Apple's guilt in the alleged unauthorized listening and sharing of recordings with advertisers.
Apple maintains its stance of no wrongdoing by settling. The company argues that users provided consent through device alerts and that recordings were not intentional. A decision on the preliminary settlement is proposed for February 14, 2025, in a Northern California court.
This settlement specifically addresses consumer privacy concerns related to unintended Siri activations and recordings rather than any securities claims about Siri's AI feature rollout, which are part of separate lawsuits against Apple. Apple has faced multiple class action lawsuits recently, including one that resulted in a $500 million settlement for slowing down iPhones.
It is crucial for consumers to stay informed about their digital privacy rights and the practices of the tech companies they use. This settlement serves as a reminder that even tech giants can be held accountable for violating consumer privacy. For more information about the settlement and how to file a claim, consumers can visit the official settlement website.
Data-and-cloud-computing technologies, such as Siri, are under scrutiny in the general news following the $95 million settlement Apple agreed to over improper recording and sharing of private conversations without user consent. Additionally, crime-and-justice proceedings continue, as the settlement does not resolve allegations of unauthorized sharing of recordings with advertisers.
