“Apple Fined $95M Over Siri’s Unauthorized Listening”

Apple has consented to a $95 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit claiming that its Siri virtual assistant unlawfully captured users’ private conversations without their permission, as stated in court documents submitted Tuesday in federal court in Oakland.

The settlement, pending court approval, aims to conclude a five-year legal dispute over allegations that Siri was inadvertently activated by trigger words, leading to the recording of private conversations, which were allegedly shared with third parties, including advertisers.

Eligible Apple Users May Claim Up to $20 Per Device

• Settlement Details: Under the proposed settlement, owners of Siri-enabled devices used between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, can claim up to $20 per device, with a maximum of five devices per user.
• Eligibility Requirements: Claimants must attest under oath that Siri unintentionally activated during private conversations to qualify for compensation.
• Reported Incidents:
  • Some users reported receiving targeted ads after Siri allegedly recorded their private discussions.
  • One individual stated they were shown ads for surgical procedures after discussing medical treatment with their doctor.
  • Others noticed advertisements for Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden following private mentions of these brands.

Apple to Erase Siri Audio Data and Launch “Improve Siri” Webpage

• Mandatory Data Deletion: Apple must verify the deletion of all Siri audio recordings collected prior to October 2019 as part of the settlement.
• Transparency Initiative: The company is required to create a dedicated webpage detailing its “Improve Siri” program, offering users insights into how Siri’s functionality is enhanced.
• Apple’s Stance: Despite agreeing to the settlement, Apple maintains that it has not engaged in any misconduct.
• Origins of the Issue:
  • The controversy began with the 2014 launch of the “Hey Siri” feature, enabling hands-free activation.
  • Users later discovered that Siri could misinterpret unrelated phrases as activation commands, resulting in unintentional recordings, some of which were reviewed by human contractors globally.