Apple Settles Proposed Siri Eavesdropping Lawsuit for $153 Million
Apple has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit by paying $153 million to address claims that its Siri virtual assistant violated user privacy. This settlement comes after allegations that Siri was activated to record conversations without users’ knowledge, even when the trigger words weren’t used.
The lawsuit claimed that Apple then shared some of these recordings with advertisers to tailor their marketing efforts. This raised concerns as it seemed to conflict with Apple’s strong stance on customer privacy, a value they have championed for years under CEO Tim Cook’s leadership.
Despite this settlement, Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing. The settlement, which is still pending approval by a US district judge, could see US consumers who owned Apple devices between September 2014 and December 2024 receive compensation of up to $32 per device. Only a small percentage of eligible consumers are expected to file claims.
To safeguard your privacy when using voice assistants like Siri, consider taking some practical steps. You can disable microphone access on your phone, check the privacy policy of your voice assistant, and review how long recordings are stored. By staying informed and taking control of your settings, you can better protect your privacy in the age of smart technology.
