American multinational corporation and technology company, Apple, has agreed to pay $95 million to settle allegations that its Siri voice assistant violated users’ privacy by recording private conversations without their consent.
Tribune Online reports that the settlement, filed in federal court in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, addresses claims that Siri’s activation via “hot words” like “Hey, Siri” led to unintentional recordings, some of which were allegedly shared with third parties, including advertisers.
The lawsuit focuses on complaints that Apple’s devices routinely captured private discussions without users’ knowledge or consent.
The proposed settlement, which still requires approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, covers the period from September 2014 to December 2024, starting from the introduction of Siri’s “Hey, Siri” feature.
Tens of millions of device owners may be eligible for compensation, with payments of up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, including iPhones and Apple Watches.
The $95 million settlement applies to individuals who owned a Siri-enabled iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, iPod Touch, or Apple TV between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024.
To be eligible, users must swear under oath that they accidentally activated Siri during a private conversation. A website to file claims will be launched once the settlement receives approval.
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