Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that its voice assistant, Siri, recorded private conversations without users’ consent and shared the data with third-party advertisers. The proposed settlement, which comes after five years of litigation, does not include an admission of wrongdoing by the company.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Oakland, California, accused Apple of violating privacy laws by allowing Siri to activate and record conversations without users intentionally using the “Hey Siri” wake command. These inadvertent recordings, triggered by sounds such as zippers or raising an Apple Watch, allegedly captured private conversations that were later shared with advertisers to target users with specific ads.
The alleged incidents occurred between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. Plaintiffs claimed the unauthorized recordings contradicted Apple’s strong public stance on privacy, which CEO Tim Cook has described as “a fundamental human right.”
The proposed settlement, which requires approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, allows eligible consumers to claim up to $20 per Siri-enabled device purchased between 2014-2024. Devices covered include iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, HomePods, iPod touches, and Apple TVs. Consumers can file claims for up to five devices, with payouts potentially adjusted based on the number of claims submitted.
If approved, Apple will notify affected customers and provide instructions on how to submit claims. A hearing to review the settlement terms is scheduled for February 14, 2025.
Had the case gone to trial and Apple been found liable, potential damages under the Wiretap Act and related privacy laws could have exceeded $1.5 billion.
The $95 million settlement represents a fraction of Apple’s $705 billion in profits since 2014. Legal filings indicate that attorneys representing the plaintiffs may seek up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover legal fees and expenses.
