Apple to Settle Siri Privacy Lawsuit for $95 Million
Cupertino, Saturday, 4 January 2025.
Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement over claims that Siri improperly recorded conversations, highlighting concerns about privacy in digital assistants.
Settlement Details and Timeline
Apple Inc. (AAPL) has proposed a $95 million settlement on January 2, 2025, to resolve a five-year-old class action lawsuit regarding privacy violations by its Siri voice assistant [1][3]. The lawsuit, filed in Oakland, California, alleges that Apple recorded private conversations without proper consent and shared these recordings with advertisers [2][3]. The settlement awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, with a proposed hearing date of February 14, 2025 [1][2].
Scope and Eligibility
The settlement could benefit tens of millions of U.S. customers who owned Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024 [3][4]. Eligible consumers can claim compensation for up to five devices, with potential payments of up to $20 per device [4]. Claims must be filed by May 15, 2025, through a dedicated website expected to launch by February 16, 2025 [4]. Notably, claimants must confirm under oath that Siri recorded their private conversations without proper activation [3].
The Privacy Controversy
The lawsuit emerged following revelations that Siri could be triggered by mundane sounds, such as a zipper, leading to unauthorized recordings [3][5]. Lead plaintiff Fumiko Lopez claimed she and her daughter received targeted advertisements for products they had only discussed privately [1]. The case particularly highlighted violations of California law, which requires consent from both parties for audio recordings [5].
Financial Context and Corporate Response
While Apple denies any wrongdoing [1][3][4], the settlement amount represents a minimal financial impact for the tech giant, which reported $94.9 billion in revenue for the quarter ending September 28, 2024 [1]. The settlement includes provisions for attorneys’ fees of up to $29.6 million [2]. As part of the agreement, Apple must confirm the permanent deletion of Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019 [1][3].