Hey Siri, are you recording?': Apple agrees to pay $95M to settle privacy lawsuit
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million in a class action lawsuit to users who say some of their conversations were unwittingly recorded and shared by the company's voice-activated Siri assistant.
The proposed settlement, which must still be approved by a federal judge, was filed Tuesday night in the Oakland, California federal court. Appledenied wrongdoing while agreeing to the settlement, which could pay many U.S.-Apply customers up to $20 per Siri-enabled device.
Customers in the lawsuit not only say that many of their conversations were captured by the Siri voice assistant without their knowledge or consent, but accused Apple of violating their privacy by sharing those recordings with third parties.
Here's what to know about the allegations contained in the lawsuit, the proposed settlement and how to know if you qualify for some money.
Siri voice assistant recorded private conversations: Lawsuit
If the proposed settlement is approved, it would end a five-year legal battle.
Voice assistants like Siri are designed to respond to user queries when people use a phrase – such as "Hey, Siri" – to trigger them.
But mobile device owners included in the class action lawsuit complained that Siri could be inadvertently activated, allowing Apple to routinely record conversations that users thought were private. Those conversations were then alleged to have been disclosed to third parties, such as advertisers, according to the lawsuit.
Two plaintiffs said their mentions of Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants triggered ads for those products. Another said he got ads for a brand name surgical treatment after discussing it, he thought privately, with his doctor, Reuters reported.
The initial class action suit against Apple came after a 2019 report from The Guardian found that Apple third-party contractors regularly heard confidential information.
Apple said in a statement to the Guardian at the time that only a small portion of data was shared to help improve Siri. However, a whistleblower told the outlet that accidental activations were common, claiming that a sound as mundane as a zipper could trigger Siri.
Download USA TODAY's app to get to the heart of newsWhen could TikTok be banned? When is Supreme Court weighing in? Here's what to know9 mobile apps to help balance your life in 2025From passwords to medical records,10 things to never say to AI botsHoney controversy, explained: Why a YouTuber claims coupon-finder is 'exploiting' influencers
How do I know if I qualify for Apple settlement money?
Apple customers who bought a Siri-enabled device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024, may qualify for a share of the proposed settlement payout. Those products include iPhones, iPads, HomePod speakers, Mac computers, Apple Watches and Apple TVs.
The class period began in the year when Apple incorporated the "Hey, Siri" feature – which allows users to activate the assistant by speaking wake words rather than pressing a button – that customers allege led to the unauthorized recordings.
Class members, estimated in the tens of millions, may submit claims for up to five Siri-enabled products, potentially receiving up to $20 per device.
Claimants must also confirm under oath that they have experienced Siri listening to a “conversation intended to be private" without being specifically activated. Those who take settlement money also forfeit their right to sue Apple for related claims.
The terms of the settlement would also require Apple to “confirm” the deletion of Siri audio recordings it collected before October 2019 and publish a webpage that better explains the company’s opt-in “Improve Siri” program.
Comments