By Hafiz Rahat Usama 
Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging that its voice assistant, Siri, eavesdropped on users and shared private information with third-party businesses, leading to targeted advertising. The lawsuit was initiated by Fumiko Lopez in 2021 and implicates Siri-enabled Apple devices used between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. Although Apple denies the allegations, it has agreed to the settlement without admitting wrongdoing.
Background of the Allegations
The controversy traces back to July 2019, when a whistleblower revealed that Siri was frequently activated unintentionally, leading to the recording of private conversations. These recordings were subsequently reviewed by Apple contractors for quality control purposes. The Guardian reported that such inadvertent activations captured sensitive information, including confidential medical discussions, private business dealings, and more intimate personal moments.
Settlement Details
Under the terms of the settlement, eligible U.S. consumers who owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device—such as iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, HomePods, iPod touches, and Apple TVs—between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, and experienced unintended Siri activations during private moments, may qualify for compensation. Claimants can receive up to $20 per device, with a maximum of five devices per person, totaling up to $100. The final court approval hearing is set for August 1, 2025, after which payments will be distributed, pending any appeals.
Apple’s Response
Apple has stated that Siri was designed to protect user privacy and that Siri data has never been used to build marketing profiles or sold to anyone for any purpose. The company settled the case to avoid additional litigation and to move forward from concerns about third-party grading that were addressed in 2019.
Implications
This settlement highlights the ongoing concerns regarding user privacy in the digital age. While Apple has made efforts to enhance privacy features, such as allowing users to opt out of sharing audio recordings, incidents like this underscore the importance of transparency and user control over personal data.