Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement in response to a lawsuit alleging that its virtual assistant, Siri, was used to eavesdrop on users of its iPhones and other popular devices.
Why It Matters
According to the lawsuit, Siri allegedly recorded conversations without being prompted by the trigger phrase “Hey, Siri.” Some of these recordings were reportedly shared with advertisers to target consumers more likely to purchase specific products and services.
The claims of Siri’s unauthorized recordings stand in stark contrast to Apple’s steadfast commitment to user privacy—a principle CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly championed as “a fundamental human right.”
What To Know
A proposed settlement filed Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, aims to resolve a five-year-old lawsuit accusing Apple of covertly activating Siri to record conversations on iPhones and other devices equipped with the virtual assistant for over a decade.
Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which is pending approval by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. Attorneys have suggested a February 14 hearing in Oakland to evaluate the agreement’s terms.
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If approved, the settlement would allow tens of millions of Apple device owners from September 17, 2014, through the end of 2023 to submit claims. Eligible consumers could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, though the final payout may vary based on the number of claims filed. Court documents estimate that only 3 percent to 5 percent of those eligible are likely to participate.
Consumers eligible for compensation under the settlement will be capped at filing claims for a maximum of five devices.
The settlement amounts to a small fraction of Apple’s $705 billion in profits since September 2014. It is also far less than the $1.5 billion potential liability estimated by attorneys representing consumers if Apple had been found guilty of violating wiretapping and other privacy laws in a trial.
Apple iOS 18.2
Last month, Apple announced its new operating system for iPhones which included several new AI-charged features. The update comes after Apple rolled out iOS 18.1.1 in November, an emergency release meant to address bugs and security issues. The new software, iOS 18.2, will provide more significant changes, including several updates using Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI platform.
New features that will be available to all iPhones that receive the update include security and bug fixes, improvements to camera control, expanded ability to share AirTags information, an improved Mail app and daily Sudoku puzzles for News+ subscribers.
What People Are Saying
Apple and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters on Thursday.
What’s Next
The lawyers who initiated the lawsuit could request up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover legal fees and related expenses, according to court filings.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
