Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of using its virtual assistant, Siri, to eavesdrop on conversations without users’ consent. The proposed settlement, filed in a California federal court, aims to resolve a legal battle that has been ongoing for over five years.
The lawsuit, initially filed in 2020, centers around allegations that Apple secretly activated Siri to record conversations from iPhones and other devices equipped with the virtual assistant. According to the plaintiffs, Apple collected audio from millions of users between 2014 and 2020, despite promises of safeguarding user privacy. The recordings were purportedly stored and analyzed by third-party contractors, some of whom had access to personal and sensitive information.
The proposed settlement would apply to users who owned Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, Macs, and HomePods between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2023. If approved, millions of consumers who were affected could be eligible to file claims for compensation. While the settlement doesn’t involve an admission of wrongdoing by Apple, it provides a significant financial payout to those who believe their privacy was violated.
The controversy surrounding Siri’s alleged eavesdropping is part of a broader public debate on digital privacy and the collection of personal data by tech giants. Apple, which markets itself as a leader in user privacy, faced backlash over these claims, especially considering its strict privacy policies that were expected to protect user data from unauthorized access.
As part of the settlement, Apple has pledged to improve transparency and refine its Siri data collection practices. The company has also committed to making changes to its internal processes to ensure that users’ privacy is better protected in the future.
The legal proceedings and the resulting settlement reflect growing concerns over privacy violations by large technology companies. It underscores the importance of ensuring that digital tools, like voice assistants, respect users’ rights to confidentiality in an increasingly connected world.
