Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over claims that its Siri voice assistant recorded users without consent. The case alleged that Siri was activated unintentionally, capturing private conversations that were later shared with third parties.
The settlement, as noted by The Wall Street Journal, applies to U.S. users with Siri-enabled devices between September 2014 and December 2024. Eligible individuals can claim up to $20 per device, with a cap of five devices per user.
The lawsuit stemmed from user reports of Siri being triggered by background noise, resulting in inadvertent recordings. Some users claimed to have received targeted ads linked to private discussions, heightening privacy concerns. Although Apple denies any intentional wrongdoing, the company agreed to settle to prevent a lengthy legal process, according to SFGate.
As part of the settlement terms, Apple will delete pre-2019 unauthorized recordings and enhance user controls related to Siri. Updates to the “Improve Siri” feature will provide users with greater transparency about how their data is handled, a move aimed at reinforcing consumer trust.
This settlement adds to the broader conversation about privacy in voice assistant technologies. While Apple has long emphasized its commitment to privacy, the case highlights the challenges of maintaining that reputation in an increasingly data-driven world.
Andrew Parker is a versatile journalist based in the UK who covers a wide range of news topics with depth and precision. With an insatiable curiosity and a commitment to delivering unbiased reporting, Andrew brings readers up-to-date on the most significant events and stories shaping the world.
