Apple to Pay $95 Million in Siri Eavesdropping You May Be Eligible to Receive Up to $100

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its virtual assistant, Siri, eavesdropped on users without their consent. The lawsuit, ongoing for five years, claims that Siri unintentionally activated, recorded private conversations, and potentially shared these recordings with advertisers.

Key Details of the Settlement

• Settlement Amount: $95 million.
• Eligibility: Consumers who owned or purchased Siri-enabled devices (like iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches) between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, can file claims.

Eligible users may receive up to $20 per device, with a maximum of five devices per claimant. However, the actual payout will depend on the total number of claims.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White will review the settlement, with a hearing scheduled for February 14, 2025.

Background of the Lawsuit

Reports indicated that Siri activated unintentionally, capturing conversations without users’ knowledge. Plaintiffs argued that Apple’s actions contradicted its commitment to user privacy.

Some users noticed targeted ads related to private discussions they believed were confidential. Although Apple denies wrongdoing, it has promised to delete recordings made before October 2019 and improve transparency regarding voice data usage.

Implications

This settlement highlights growing concerns about privacy in technology. Other tech companies have faced similar lawsuits; for example, Amazon recently resolved a case involving its Alexa assistant for $30 million. The outcome of this case could influence how tech companies manage user data and privacy in the future.

How to Determine Eligibility

To qualify for the Apple Siri settlement, you need to meet the following criteria:

1. You must have owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. Eligible devices include iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, Apple TVs, HomePods, and iPod Touches.
2. You need to attest that Siri unintentionally activated during private conversations. You must swear under oath that accidental activations occurred on each claimed device.
3. You can file claims for up to five devices, with a maximum payout of $20 per device. However, the total payout will depend on the number of claims submitted.

Next Steps

After the court approves the settlement (hearing scheduled for February 14, 2025), you can submit a claim form online through the official settlement website.

You will have 135 days from the date of preliminary approval to submit your claim. Monitor updates about the court’s decision and the launch of the claim submission website to ensure you can participate in the settlement if eligible.