Apple to Pay $95 Million to Resolve Siri Privacy Lawsuit
Apple settles a $95 million lawsuit over allegations that Siri voice assistant recorded private conversations and shared them with advertisers.
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit over allegations that its Siri voice assistant violated user privacy. The preliminary settlement was filed in the Oakland, California federal court and awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.
The Allegations Against Siri
The lawsuit claims that Apple’s Siri assistant recorded private conversations unintentionally and shared them with third parties, such as advertisers. Siri typically activates when users say specific “hot words” like “Hey, Siri.” However, plaintiffs alleged that accidental activations led to unauthorized recordings.
One plaintiff reported that mentioning Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants triggered targeted ads for those products. Another claimed that after discussing a surgical treatment with their doctor, they received ads for the same brand.
Class Period and Compensation Details
The class period covers Siri-enabled device usage between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. During this time, Siri incorporated the “Hey, Siri” feature, which plaintiffs allege caused the unauthorized recordings.
Eligible class members could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, including iPhones and Apple Watches. Tens of millions of devices are estimated to be part of this settlement.
Apple’s Response and Settlement Terms
While Apple denied any wrongdoing, the company agreed to the settlement to resolve the lawsuit. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs may request $28.5 million in fees and $1.1 million for expenses from the settlement fund.
Comparison with Google’s Case
A similar case against Google’s Voice Assistant is ongoing in the San Jose, California federal court. Interestingly, the same law firms represent plaintiffs in both lawsuits.
Case Details
The case is titled Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 19-04577.
Apple’s Financial Perspective
For a company like Apple, which reported a net income of $93.74 billion in its most recent fiscal year, the $95 million settlement equates to roughly nine hours of profit.
