Apple has agreed to pay $95 million (£77 million) to settle a US class motion lawsuit that alleged Siri, its virtual assistant, recorded private conversations without users’ consent.
The proposed settlement, filed in federal court in Oakland, California, follows a five-year legal dispute and covers tens of tens of millions of Apple device owners.
While Apple denies any wrongdoing, it has agreed to a payout that enables individuals with Siri-enabled devices – including iPhones and Apple Watches – to claim up to $20 for every device. The case centers on allegations that Siri was inadvertently triggered without using the wake-up word “Hey Siri,” leading to private conversations being recorded and made available to third parties similar to advertisers.
Plaintiffs reported instances during which private discussions about services or products – from Air Jordan sneakers to specific medical treatments – apparently led to targeted promoting for those self same products. They claim that Apple intercepted and shared these conversations without the user’s consent.
The proposed settlement could damage Apple’s privacy-focused image, and CEO Tim Cook has previously positioned the corporate as an industry leader in protecting customer data. However, the $95 million settlement represents only a fraction of the profits Apple has generated since 2014 (an estimated $705 billion).
The settlement still requires court approval, and a hearing is scheduled for February 14 in Oakland. Once approved, eligible U.S. customers who owned a Siri-enabled device between September 17, 2014 and the tip of last 12 months will give you the chance to submit claims. Plaintiffs’ lawyers can seek legal fees and expenses from the settlement fund, potentially up to a complete of $29.6 million.
