Apple Inc. is set to pay $95 million to customers who owned devices equipped with Siri, following a class-action lawsuit that accused the voice assistant of eavesdropping on private conversations. This settlement, announced on May 9, 2025, stems from allegations that Siri was unintentionally activated and recorded users without their consent.
The lawsuit, known as Lopez v. Apple, was filed in a California court and stems from claims that users' conversations were recorded and sold to advertisers. The legal battle began in 2019 when a whistleblower revealed to The Guardian that Apple contractors were routinely listening to private conversations captured by Siri. The lawsuit contends that Apple knowingly violated consumers’ privacy rights, particularly within their own homes, where individuals expect confidentiality.
While Apple has agreed to the settlement, it has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The company stated, "Apple has never used Siri data to build marketing profiles, never made it available for advertising, and never sold it to anyone for any purpose." Despite these assertions, the tech giant will establish a fund to compensate affected users.
Eligibility for the settlement is broad, encompassing anyone who owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. This includes popular devices such as iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, Apple TV streaming boxes, HomePod speakers, and iPod Touches. To qualify for a payout, individuals must attest under oath that they experienced an unintended activation of Siri while having a private conversation.
For those wishing to claim their share, a dedicated website, Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement, has been established. Users may have received personalized notices with a claim identification code, but even those without such notifications can submit claims online. The deadline for filing a claim is July 2, 2025.
Payments are capped at $20 per device, but the total amount each claimant receives may be less depending on the number of claims submitted. Each individual can claim for up to five devices, potentially totaling a maximum payout of $100. The exact timing of payments remains uncertain, as a final court hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2025, to approve the settlement. If approved without appeals, payments will be processed as quickly as possible.
This settlement represents a small fraction—approximately 0.1%—of Apple’s $93.7 billion profit from the previous fiscal year, highlighting the financial scale of the company compared to the settlement amount. As the claims process unfolds, those who have experienced unintended Siri activations are encouraged to take action. The legal saga surrounding Siri's privacy issues has sparked broader discussions about user consent and data privacy in the tech industry.
In summary, if you’ve owned an Apple device with Siri in the last decade and believe your privacy may have been compromised, now is the time to check your eligibility for the settlement. With the deadline fast approaching, users are urged to submit their claims and secure their potential payouts.
