Siri users may be eligible for compensation after Apple agreed to a $95 million settlement in a lawsuit accusing the company of secretly recording private conversations through its digital assistant. The company denies wrongdoing, but affected users can now file claims for a share of the payout.
Key Facts:
- Apple reached a $95 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over Siri’s alleged unauthorized recording of private conversations.
- The lawsuit, led by Fumiko Lopez, was filed in March 2021 in federal court in Northern California.
- Eligible users must have owned a Siri-enabled Apple device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024.
- Claims must be filed or objections submitted by July 2, with final approval expected by August 1.
- Each claimant could receive up to $20 per qualifying device, depending on the number of valid claims filed.
The Rest of The Story:
The lawsuit alleged that Apple violated users’ privacy by allowing Siri to eavesdrop without permission, even when the wake phrase “Hey Siri” wasn’t used.
Plaintiffs claimed Apple collected data from these unintentional recordings and then used that data to serve ads that matched what users had spoken about—but hadn’t searched online.
Apple denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid a lengthy trial.
The settlement covers a broad range of Siri-enabled devices, from iPhones and iPads to Apple Watches and Macs.
Users who qualify must submit their claims before July 2.
Judge Jeffrey S. White is set to issue a final ruling by August 1.
If the settlement is approved and no appeals follow, payments will begin soon after.
Commentary:
This lawsuit taps into a growing concern Americans have about smart devices spying on them.
While tech giants deny such activity, too many users have experienced the same eerie coincidence: talking about a product and then seeing an ad for it hours later.
That pattern has convinced many that devices like Siri are always listening—whether or not a company admits it.
This case should be a wake-up call.
Whether Apple admits guilt or not is irrelevant.
The fact that it was willing to pay $95 million to make the issue disappear suggests there was something worth avoiding in open court.
Users deserve transparency, not carefully worded denials.
The line between convenience and surveillance is thin, and companies have too often blurred it in pursuit of profits.
Devices sold as helpful tools should not quietly capture private conversations and turn them into marketing opportunities.
The Bottom Line:
Apple will pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging Siri recorded users without permission.
Millions of Americans who used Siri-enabled devices since 2014 may be owed money.
Even without admitting fault, Apple’s payout sends a clear message.
Spying on your customers comes with a price tag.
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