Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit involving its Siri voice assistant, which was accused of eavesdropping on users' private conversations. This settlement arises from allegations that Siri recorded conversations without users' consent and shared these recordings with third-party contractors for evaluation. The lawsuit, known as Lopez v. Apple Inc., was filed in December 2019, asserting that Apple infringed on users' privacy rights by allowing unintended activations of Siri to capture confidential communications.
Under the terms of the settlement, consumers who owned or purchased Siri-enabled devices in the United States or its territories may be eligible for compensation. To qualify, users must have owned devices such as the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. They must also demonstrate that their Siri was activated unintentionally during private conversations.
Each approved claim can yield a payout of up to $20 per device, with a maximum of five devices per claimant, allowing for a total potential compensation of $100. However, the actual amount each claimant receives may be lower, depending on the number of eligible claims submitted. Lawyers involved in the case estimate that only 3% to 5% of eligible consumers are expected to file claims, which could significantly affect the payout amounts. Additionally, legal fees could consume up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund.
The settlement agreement comes after a 2019 report by The Guardian, which revealed that Apple contractors had access to confidential user audio captured by Siri, including sensitive information and private conversations. Apple issued an apology and stated that it would no longer retain user recordings, emphasizing that Siri data was never used for marketing purposes.
To file a claim, users can visit the settlement website, where they can enter their Claimant ID Code and Confirmation Code if they received a notification. Those who did not receive a notice can still file a claim by providing personal information, including their name, address, and proof of purchase for each device. The deadline for submitting claims is July 2, 2025, with a final approval hearing scheduled for August 1, 2025.
Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group, remarked on the settlement's implications, stating, "This is absolutely a way for Apple to not admit fault, as $95 million to Apple is a simple rounding error. This is a corporate tactic used to absolve themselves from the allegations and not admit fault, while paying out the consumer." He further noted that if only 10% of the 1.3 billion iPhones sold over the past decade were claimed, it could lead to a payout of as little as $0.80 per person.
Apple's spokesperson reiterated that the company settled the case to avoid further litigation and to move forward from concerns raised about third-party grading, which had already been addressed in 2019. The spokesperson emphasized, "We use Siri data to improve Siri, and we are constantly developing technologies to make Siri even more private."
As the deadline for claims approaches, eligible users are encouraged to submit their claims as soon as possible. The outcome of the final approval hearing will determine if the claim is deemed fair, reasonable, and adequate, paving the way for potential payouts later this year.
