More than five years ago, Apple faced a lawsuit regarding the ‘unlawful and intentional recording’ of Siri interactions. The case is now nearing its conclusion, with Apple agreeing to a settlement amounting to $95 million.
Apple’s settlement will provide users with up to $20 for each affected Siri device
According to Reuters, the lengthy legal dispute concerning Siri recordings is concluding with a settlement. The proposed settlement awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in the federal court of Oakland, California, following its submission with Apple’s agreement made Tuesday night.
The plaintiffs in the 2019 lawsuit claimed that Apple had recorded conversations without user consent and shared those conversations with third-party services, leading to targeted advertisements. This was linked to the ‘Hey Siri’ voice activation feature.
As a result, users may receive financial compensation from the settlement.
Jonathan Stempel of Reuters reports:
Class members, estimated to be in the tens of millions, could receive up to $20 per Siri-compatible device, including iPhones and Apple Watches.
Apple maintains its position of denying any wrongdoing despite agreeing to settle.
The controversy surrounding the lawsuit and Siri’s reporting in 2019 prompted Apple to implement various changes, including:
- an internal assessment of Siri-related practices, particularly concerning contractor involvement
- the introduction of new permission prompts for Siri audio recordings on Apple devices
- and a well-known privacy feature: ‘Ask App Not to Track’
While Apple’s adjustments over the years have not been an admission of guilt, the current settlement does not imply any fault either.
That said, it seems the company has deemed this settlement as the most favorable outcome available. Though I did not verify the calculations, Reuters mentions that the $95 million settlement represents “approximately nine hours of profit for Apple.”
Details regarding the process for claiming a portion of the payout are currently not available, but we will keep you informed as the settlement is finalized and logistics are established.
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