Apple to Pay $95 Million Settlement for Siri Spying Claims

Apple Settles $95 Million Lawsuit Over Siri Privacy Concerns

Apple has agreed to a substantial $95 million settlement regarding allegations that its Siri voice assistant inadvertently captured users’ private conversations. This proposal, highlighted by Bloomberg, seeks to compensate many U.S.-based Apple product owners with payouts potentially reaching up to $20 for each device, applicable for up to five Siri-enabled devices.

Settlement Details and Eligibility

The proposed settlement is still pending judicial approval. If approved, it will be available to a subset of U.S.-based individuals who owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device including:

• iPhone
• iPad
• Apple Watch
• MacBook
• iMac
• HomePod
• iPod touch
• Apple TV

Eligibility criteria include having owned a device between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, and providing sworn testimony that Siri was accidentally activated during a private conversation.

Impact of the Lawsuit

The class action suit was initiated following a revealing 2019 report by The Guardian, which disclosed that Apple’s third-party contractors frequently overheard sensitive conversations, including confidential medical discussions and personal exchanges. This sparked concerns over the privacy of users' audio data.

Despite Apple stating that only a minor fraction of Siri recordings were reviewed by contractors, the implications were substantial, prompting an official apology and a commitment to discontinue the retention of audio recordings.

Other Companies in the Spotlight

Apple is not alone in facing scrutiny over user privacy; tech giants Google and Amazon have also been implicated in similar situations, wherein contractors reportedly listened in on inadvertently recorded conversations. A corresponding lawsuit against Google is currently pending.

Conclusion

This settlement underscores significant implications for digital privacy amid increasing scrutiny on how tech companies handle user data. As the conversation around digital privacy continues, users are urged to be aware of the functionalities of their devices and the potential for unintended recordings.

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