Apple Faces Controversy: $95 Million Settlement in Siri Privacy Lawsuit

Apple has reached a $95 million settlement in a class action lawsuit accusing the company of eavesdropping on users via its virtual assistant, Siri, without consent. The allegations arose from claims that Siri was activated unintentionally and recorded conversations, which were then allegedly shared with advertisers to enhance targeted advertising strategies.

The lawsuit, led by plaintiff Fumiko Lopez, asserts that she and her daughter were recorded without their knowledge, with targeted ads appearing for products like Air Jordans after their discussions. Although Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing, its lawyers emphasized that all relevant Siri audio recordings collected prior to October 2019 have been permanently deleted.

The proposed settlement suggests that eligible claimants in the U.S. could receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they owned between 2014 and 2019, with legal fees amounting to approximately $30 million. This decision reflects Apple’s strategy to mitigate the risk of a potential court case that could result in higher payouts.

Apple has faced multiple class action lawsuits in recent months, including claims regarding the intentional slowing of iPhones and customer dissatisfaction with its iCloud service, paralleling a similar lawsuit against Google for its devices’ alleged recording capabilities. The settlement aims to resolve these privacy concerns and maintain consumer trust amid ongoing scrutiny.