Apple settles claims of Siri listening to private conversations with $95m payment
Apple has recently agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit by paying $95 million in cash over claims that its voice-activated assistant, Siri, violated users’ privacy by listening in on conversations without their consent. This settlement represents about nine hours of profit for Apple, which has denied any wrongdoing in this case.
iPhone users alleged that Siri recorded their private conversations after being unintentionally activated, and then shared these conversations with advertisers. The lawsuit, which covers the period from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, focused on Apple’s use of the “Hey, Siri” feature which triggered these unauthorized recordings. It was estimated that tens of millions of class members could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, including iPhones and Apple Watches.
Despite settling, Apple has consistently emphasized its commitment to user privacy. In fact, in 2018, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, criticized other tech companies for prioritizing profits over privacy. The company has always maintained that iPhones do not actively “listen” to users except to detect the specific audio trigger, “Hey Siri.”
However, a 2019 Guardian report, referenced in the original complaint, revealed that contractors working on Siri quality assurance had access to private user conversations. Some of these conversations included sensitive information like medical details, drug deals, and even recordings of intimate moments. Apple responded by pausing their quality improvement program and changing their audio recording policies.
Lawyers for both Apple and the plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit have not provided further comments on the settlement. It’s worth noting that a similar suit against Google’s Voice Assistant is currently pending in a federal court in San Jose, California, with the same law firms representing the plaintiffs.
This settlement highlights the ongoing debate around privacy in the tech industry and serves as a reminder for companies like Apple to prioritize user data security and consent.
