Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its virtual assistant Siri was used to eavesdrop on users of iPhones and other devices. The proposed settlement, filed in an Oakland, California federal court, aims to resolve a 5-year-old lawsuit that claimed Apple activated Siri to record conversations without users' consent.
The lawsuit alleged that Siri recorded conversations through devices equipped with the virtual assistant, even when users did not activate it with the trigger words 'Hey, Siri.' Some recordings were reportedly shared with advertisers to target consumers for marketing purposes.
Despite Apple's reputation for prioritizing user privacy, the lawsuit raised concerns about the company's practices. The settlement, which is subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, does not require Apple to admit any wrongdoing.
If approved, consumers who owned Siri-equipped devices between September 2014 and the end of 2021 may be eligible to file claims. Each consumer could receive up to $20 per device covered by the settlement, with an estimated 3% to 5% of eligible consumers expected to file claims.
Eligible consumers can seek compensation for a maximum of five devices. The $95 million settlement represents a small portion of Apple's profits since 2014 and is significantly less than the potential $1.5 billion penalty estimated if the case had gone to trial.
Attorneys involved in the lawsuit may request up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover their fees and expenses. A court hearing is scheduled for February 14 in Oakland to review the terms of the proposed settlement.
