Apple users who live in the United States or its territories–particularly those who use its voice assistant Siri via products like iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, HomePods, Apple Watches, and Apple TVs–might be eligible to receive a compensation payout after the Apple Siri lawsuit settlement worth $95 million.
The Siri class action lawsuit settlement comes after a lawsuit filed by Californian Fumiko Lopez in 2021. He and other plaintiffs alleged that Apple, through Siri, unlawfully and unintentionally recorded users’ confidential conversations without their consent and subsequently shared those conversations with third parties.
The Siri lawsuit alleges that Apple knowingly, intentionally, and willfully violated customers’ privacy rights, even in the sanctity of their homes, which they deem private.
On December 31, 2024, Apple agreed to a settlement; however, the company denies all the claims made in the litigation and maintains that it did nothing wrong.
What Is the Apple Siri Lawsuit Settlement?
Apple agreed to pay $95 million in a settlement in the Apple Siri lawsuit, which involved allegations that Siri, its voice assistant, unintentionally listened in on private communications.
The Apple settlement compensation benefits former and current purchasers and owners of Siri-enabled devices, including iPads, iPhones, MacBooks, Apple Watches, iPod touches, HomePods, and Apple TVs. The owners and purchasers of these Siri-activated devices must live in the United States or its territories. Additionally, they should have experienced an unintended Siri activation during private communications between September 2014 and December 2024.
The Apple Siri class action lawsuit claimants sued Apple for violating privacy laws by accidentally or unlawfully activating Siri on their devices and listening to private conversations. They also accused Apple of sharing their private conversations with third parties.
Shortly after the Siri data privacy lawsuit was filed in 2021, Apple stopped using third parties. In settling the lawsuit, the company also denied all the claims made in the case. The company maintains that its voice assistant has never been used to build marketing profiles.
Under the Siri data privacy settlement, purchasers and owners of Siri-enabled devices who have experienced an unintentional or unintended voice assistant activation during a confidential conversation might be eligible for compensation of up to $100. Each affected party can file a claim of up to $20 per device, for a maximum of five devices.
Key Allegations and Claims in the Siri Privacy Lawsuit
In 2021, plaintiffs filed the Lopez et al v. Apple Inc.–the Siri class action lawsuit, claiming Apple periodically recorded their private conversations after unexpectedly activating its Siri voice assistant. They alleged this was a violation of their privacy rights.
Further, they claimed that Apple sold those recordings to advertisers, who used that information to target them with online ads.
Plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit noted they saw advertisements online for brands like Olive Garden Restaurants and Air Jordans after they had confidential discussions with their friends about those products. In some cases, claimants alleged that Siri-enabled devices started listening in on them without having said anything at all. When the lawsuit was first filed, at least one claimant was a minor.
Again, while the company has agreed to a settlement, it denies all allegations related to the Apple Siri lawsuit.
Apple settled this lawsuit to avoid further litigation and move forward from controversies about third parties that it allegedly addressed in 2019. Apple maintains that it uses users’ data to improve Siri and is continually developing technologies to enhance the privacy of its voice assistant.
What Does the Apple Siri Settlement Mean for Users?
The $95 million Siri class action lawsuit settlement means that purchasers and owners of Siri-enabled devices who live in the United States or its territories might qualify for a cash payout of up to $20 per affected device for up to five devices if they believed that Siri unintentionally eavesdropped on their confidential communications. The final payment per claimant will primarily depend on the number of valid claims, meaning that individual claimants may receive less than $20 per affected device.
This compensation settlement is related to a class action lawsuit claiming that Apple listened in on users’ private and confidential communications through Siri. The settlement will compensate users who were unfairly targeted by Siri’s unintended activation.
The settlement also showcases concerns about privacy and the need for transparency in how virtual assistants handle consumers’ data.
However, Dev Nag, the founder and chief executive of QueryPal, a California-based technology company, notes that the Apple settlement compensation may serve as a “privacy tax,” instead of an actual deterrent, enabling businesses to treat such payments as a key part of the cost-benefit analysis when designing AI features.
He adds that Apple will pay $20 per affected device, a small percentage of each device’s profit. This may lead to a trend where businesses like Apple effectively buy their way out of data privacy controversies while maintaining their market share.
How to Claim Your Share of the Apple Siri Lawsuit Settlement
If you believe you’re entitled to a share of the cash payout, you must file your claim before July 2, 2025. Some Apple users may have received a postcard or email notifying them about their eligibility and a Claim Identification Code. If you have received this code, then make sure you use it when applying for compensation.
However, if you haven’t received any email or postcard with a code, visit the case website and use the Submit Claim web page to file your claim.
If you don’t have any codes, click the “New Claim” button. Here, you’ll need to fill in your name, address, email address linked to your Apple ID, and proof of purchase or the model name and serial number of each Siri-enabled device you’re claiming for.
You must declare that you experienced at least one unintentional Siri activation between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, and at least one instance occurred during a private or confidential conversation.
Again, it’s crucial to note that the cash payout per Siri-enabled device is capped at $20, and the payment claimants receive could be less depending on the number of valid claims submitted. The final court hearing to decide on the approved payouts will be on August 1, 2025, and the court will determine if the settlement is “adequate, reasonable, and fair.”
How the Apple Siri Settlement Could Change Privacy Practices
The class action lawsuit has lasted over four years and shed light on severe data privacy issues. Over the years, the lawsuit has accused Apple of secretly activating Siri on iPads, iPhones, and other Apple devices. Billions of private conversations were allegedly recorded and used in ways that don’t align with the company’s well-known commitment to consumer privacy.
The proposed settlement payment indicates a shift in how Apple addresses consumer concerns, despite the company denying any wrongdoing and emphasizing that data privacy was a key priority in designing Siri.
Even though the $95 million settlement only represents a small percentage of the company’s billions in profits, it’s an imperative reminder of the continuous challenges of balancing consumer trust, confidence, and technology advancements.
The tech giant responded to the allegations by reaffirming its dedication to protecting consumer privacy. The company stressed that no Siri-sourced data was sold to third parties or used to build marketing profiles.
Additionally, the Apple Siri privacy lawsuit highlights the importance of data privacy in the current digital ecosystem. Tech giants collect enormous amounts of data to enhance the customer experience and deliver personalized advertising, primarily due to our increasing reliance on technology. However, this raises the question of whether consumers have given their informed consent regarding how their data is collected, saved, and shared.
Getting consumer consent is crucial for gathering data lawfully and ethically. Thus, Apple and other tech giants must prioritize transparency and honesty in informing consumers about how they collect data, how that data will be used, and the ability of users to opt out if they want. If their privacy is protected, consumers are more likely to interact with companies and voluntarily share their data, strengthening the relationship between brands and consumers.
Further, the lawsuit pressures regulators to enact stricter data privacy regulations. In the United States, laws like the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe already restrict how businesses gather and use confidential data.
However, the Siri controversy highlights that even businesses adhering to stringent data privacy regulations can still fail to meet expectations. Thus, this lawsuit could lead to additional regulatory scrutiny and potential changes to data privacy regulations aimed at addressing the growing risks associated with voice-activated technologies.
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