Apple Settles Siri Eavesdropping Lawsuit for $95 Million

In a recent legal development, Apple Inc. has reached a settlement of $95 million to resolve claims that its virtual assistant, Siri, was illegally eavesdropping on users without their consent. The lawsuit contended that Siri was listening to users even when it wasn't activated by the wake phrase "Hey, Siri" and alleged that recording data was improperly shared with advertisers. The tech behemoth has not admitted to any wrongdoing but has filed a settlement proposal in a California court, waiving its right to a trial that could have led to a more substantial financial liability if lost. Each claimant based in the US may receive up to $20 for Siri-enabled devices owned between 2014 and 2019. By agreeing to this settlement, Apple hopes to avoid extending litigation which could have posed a much larger financial risk.

While Apple insists that it has permanently deleted all individual Siri recordings collected before October 2019, the plaintiffs argue that the unintended activations provided valuable data to advertisers, enabling more targeted advertising practices. This case is part of a broader trend, as Apple has faced multiple class action lawsuits over the past few years, alleged for practices ranging from slowing down iPhones to customer rip-offs via its iCloud service. The final decision date for this settlement is set for February 14, 2024.

Apple continues to be a figure of scrutiny as it navigates various legal battles and potential settlements, underlining ongoing concerns about user privacy in the digital age.