Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging unauthorized eavesdropping through its devices. The tech giant faced accusations of listening in on users via its Siri virtual assistant.
Plaintiffs in the case also claim that voice recordings were shared with third-party advertisers.
While denying any wrongdoing, Apple has been contacted for a statement on this matter.
In the agreement, Apple refutes claims of “recording, disclosing to third parties, or failing to delete conversations recorded as the result of a Siri activation” without user consent.
Apple’s legal team asserts that they have “permanently deleted individual Siri audio recordings collected by Apple prior to October 2019.”
However, the plaintiffs argue that Apple recorded users who unintentionally triggered Siri, without saying the activation phrase “Hey, Siri.”
They further allege that advertisers were able to search these recordings for keywords to better tailor their advertisements.
Class Action
Apple has scheduled a decision in this class action for February 14 at the Oakland, California court.
Class action suits involve a small number of representatives suing on behalf of a broader group.
Successful claims result in a payout distributed among all participants.
The settlement documents indicate each U.S.-based claimant could receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device owned from 2014 to 2019.
Lawyers are set to receive around 30% of the total settlement amount plus expenses, totaling nearly $30 million.
By settling, Apple not only denies any misconduct but also sidesteps the uncertainties of a trial that could lead to a higher payout.
During the quarter ending on September 28, 2024, Apple reported revenues of $94.9 billion.
Apple has faced several class actions in recent years. In January 2024, it began payouts in a $500 million lawsuit over allegations of intentionally slowing down older iPhones.
In March, it settled for $490 million in a UK class action initiated by Norfolk County Council.
Additionally, in November, the consumer advocacy group Which? launched a lawsuit against Apple, claiming the company overcharged users for iCloud services.
