Zayed Rehman·

Apple To Pay $95M To Users In Siri Privacy Settlement: Are You Eligible?

Have you ever been mid-conversation, glanced at your iPhone or Apple Watch, and noticed that Siri had unexpectedly chimed in? If so, you might be eligible for a small payout as part of a recent Apple settlement.

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit that claims Siri’s voice assistant violated users’ privacy.

The allegations focus on Siri inadvertently recording snippets of private conversations when unintentionally activated by phrases resembling “Hey Siri.” These recordings, plaintiffs claim, were sometimes shared with third parties like human reviewers and advertisers.

The lawsuit, which covers alleged violations from September 2014 to December 31, 2021, came in the wake of a 2019 report by The Guardian. That report revealed Apple contractors were overhearing fragments of personal conversations while reviewing Siri interactions for quality assurance. Apple responded with an apology and pledged to improve how Siri data is handled. The company denies any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

Eligible users could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, depending on how many devices they own and how many people file claims. The settlement applies to U.S. residents who owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device and believe Apple recorded private conversations unintentionally. Claimants must declare their eligibility under oath.

As part of the settlement, Apple has agreed to improve transparency. A dedicated webpage will explain Siri’s data handling, and the company has promised to delete pre-October 2019 recordings.

The settlement now awaits approval from a U.S. District Judge. If approved, Apple may also face additional legal costs of $28.5 million for plaintiffs’ attorney fees and $1.1 million for litigation expenses.

In the meantime, Siri continues to evolve. Apple recently announced updates that will make Siri more AI-driven and conversational, with the upgraded version expected to launch next year.

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