Apple Settlement: $95 Million Payout for Device Users – Qualifications and Eligibility Info

Apple has agreed to pay a hefty $95 million settlement to users who believe their conversations were recorded and shared by the Siri assistant without consent. If you’ve ever had that eerie feeling that your Apple device was eavesdropping on you, you may be eligible for a piece of the settlement pie.

This settlement, which is still pending court approval, comes after a long legal battle that started back in 2019 when The Guardian reported that Apple contractors were overhearing private information while grading Siri’s responses. Apple claimed that only a small fraction of Siri requests were used to enhance the assistant’s performance, with user data kept separate from Apple IDs and analyzed securely.

However, concerns were raised about accidental Siri activations picking up sensitive personal details. The Siri assistant, present in all Apple devices, can be triggered by innocent sounds like the zip of a jacket, leading to unintended recordings of private conversations that could potentially be shared with third parties like advertisers.

Apple has denied any wrongdoing but has agreed to the settlement. To qualify for the payout, you must have purchased a Siri-enabled device between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, when the “Hey Siri” feature was introduced. This includes devices like iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.

Claimants must swear under oath that they have experienced Siri listening to a private conversation without intentional activation. If you accept the settlement money, you give up the right to sue Apple for similar claims in the future.

So, if you think your Siri has been a little too nosy in the past, it might be time to check if you qualify for a share of this substantial settlement.